Is there such a thing as a 1974 silver half?

cosmicblunder

I was roll searching and found a 1974 proof. What stuck out to me was the side of the coin looked silver, like a 90% half. To my knowledge, 1974 Kennedy halves were clad, no silver. Correct?

pontiacinf

dont know but welcome to the boards and cool name

coindeuce

No silver Proof JFK's expected from 1968 thru 1991. I would not totally discount the possibility of a silver Proof JFK dated 1982 to be discovered someday though, since the 90% silver Washington commemorative half blanks would have been present at the SanFrancisco Mint around the same time as production was scheduled for the Kennedy Proof halfs.

CaptHenway

<< <i>I was roll searching and found a 1974 proof. What stuck out to me was the side of the coin looked silver, like a 90% half. To my knowledge, 1974 Kennedy halves were clad, no silver. Correct? >>



A 40% silver Proof might be possible. I think they started producing the 40% Bicentennial coins in late 1974 for sale in 1975, but I'm not sure. With an 80% silver face, I don't think you could tell 80% from 90%.
TD

commoncents05

Might be silver plated?

-Paul

RichieURich

I know there are 1977 silver halves struck on leftover Bicentennial 40% silver planchets, but I haven't heard of a 1974. But as Capt. Henway says, it could have happened.

fcloud

The color of all 1974 halves is silver.

Ahrensdad

<< <i>I was roll searching and found a 1974 proof. What stuck out to me was the side of the coin looked silver, like a 90% half. To my knowledge, 1974 Kennedy halves were clad, no silver. Correct? >>



Post a picture please...

cosmicblunder

Thanks for all of the help and replies. I took a quick pick with my phone just to show what I meant, it just sticks out like a silver coin. From the bottom, 1966, 1985, 1974 mystery proof, 1981, 1964, 1979. The 1974 proof coin looks more 90% than 40%. Perhaps there is a way to test it?

Constantine

Um that is a really good pic from a camera phone!!!

coinkat

send it in to PCGS and let them look at it- seems possible something happened here

fcloud

See if you can get a weight on it. That way you can compare to the 90%, 40% and clad.

CaptHenway

Doesn't have the toned core typical of 40% halves (such as the bottom coin).

Show the obverse and reverse please.

Does it look dipped? Sometimes people use a jar of dip so long that they suspend dissolved silver in it, and if they then leave a coin in it too long can crudely silver plate the coin.

As somebody else said, the weight is your next step. Ose the other coins for your benchmarks.

TD

ModCrewman

Plated by chance?

CaptHenway

<< <i>Plated by chance? >>



The Gardener?

LanceNewmanOCC

red book specs

1964 12.5 grams (silver)

1965-1970 11.5 grams (silver-clad)

1971-forward 11.34 grams (clad)

it seems the silver planchets weigh more

save a lot of time and weigh it

cosmicblunder

<< <i>Doesn't have the toned core typical of 40% halves (such as the bottom coin).

Show the obverse and reverse please.

Does it look dipped? Sometimes people use a jar of dip so long that they suspend dissolved silver in it, and if they then leave a coin in it too long can crudely silver plate the coin.

As somebody else said, the weight is your next step. Ose the other coins for your benchmarks.

TD >>



These pics aren't good, but the best I could do with this phone. The coin weight is 12 grams, the same my 40% weighed out for me. My scale dosn't weigh out in tenths, that's a problem. I'll have to find a more accurate scale. Thanks for all the help guys. I'll update with a more accurate weight.

commoncents05

It's plated, not a Proof. Proofs were minted in San Fransisco and have an S Mint Mark.

-Paul

hammered54

panama halfs were minted at the u.s. mint at the time and were 40% up to 1973.. .....so anything is possible.

stealer

It has a plated look to it, but it might just be the lighting.

stealer

It has a plated look to it, but it might just be the lighting.

GaCoinGuy

<< <i>It has a plated look to it, but it might just be the lighting. >>



I agree, it does look plated. And the plating looks thick, almost chrome-like. Interesting though.

ricko

The edge shots had me thinking silver, but the obverse/reverse say plated.... very unnatural shine to the surfaces. Cheers, RickO

BBN

agree with others. The shiney look makes it look plated.