1990 D Half - what degree is it rotated ?

Snowman24

Found this 1990 D half in a 500 dollar box from the bank. It was on the outside of the roll and got wrapper damage on both sides
but what is the approx. degree of rotation. thanks Snowman

Casman

I'd guess 135 ccw...

Casman

I'd also look closely at the reverse rims (not the edge), look for a seam, these are known to be faked. Yours looks funny on the reverse around UNITED...

oldsubguru

You can see the seem on the reverse. It is a "magicians coin" and not a mint error.

lostincoins

close to 135 as stated just use a protractor app

LanceNewmanOCC

.
sure you guys are calculating correctly>?
.

Casman

<< <i>.
sure you guys are calculating correctly>?
. >>



Yes, my rota flip was certified to be accurate by NASA just last week...

MrHalfDime

It is relatively easy to measure the degree of rotation observed in the obverse and reverse photos of the Kennedy half, if we first assume that the photos are of the same coin, and that the coin was not rotated inside the holder between photos. If we use the two staples seen at the top of the obverse photo as a reference, this should appear at the bottom of the reverse in a normal (coin rotation) half. However, we can see that the two staples do not appear at the bottom of the reverse; they appear more than a quarter turn from normal alignment of the dies. If we sight a line from the center of the coin toward the bottom of the reverse design, near the right side of the D in DOLLAR, and then sight another line from the center of the coin to the area in between the two staples (which should be the bottom of the reverse), and then measure the angle subtended by these two lines, we measure approximately 130º to 135º, as stated by other respondents. The rotation would be CCW from normal rotation, again as stated by previous respondents. However, if we look closely at the letters of the denomination on the reverse, particularly in HALF, we can see that there are no bottoms of the letters. The bottom serifs of H, A and F are missing, and the horizontal portion of the L is completely missing. This strongly suggests that this is a 'magicians coin', again as stated by previous respondents, where the reverse was removed by a circular cut just inside the rim on the reverse. In the cutting process the bottoms of the letters were inadvertently removed. This could better be determined by an in-hand inspection or perhaps can be verified by weighing the coin. Most magicians coins seen consist of a sandwich of two different denomination coins, and not two of the same denomination. It thus may be hollowed, like the so-called "Opium Dollars" made from Trade Dollars. If so, then this could also be verified by weighing the coin. If you should have the coin out of the 2x2 holder, you might try holding the coin by the edges, with the obverse up, and see if gravity opens the reverse to expose a hollow center. In any event, it does not appear to be as issued by the Mint.

LanceNewmanOCC

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so does it matter which way we call it

135ccw or 225cw
.

Snowman24

MrHalfDime

<< <i>.so does it matter which way we call it 135ccw or 225cw. >>



In theory it would not matter. Either designation brings us to the same end point. However, by convention, we assume that there is no rotation of more than 180º. So 225º CW would be impossible, necessitating the 135º CCW designation. Just a convention; either would be considered correct.

Snowman24

opps ....

yeah you guys are right ..it's fake ...I dropped it on the counter and it gives a nice big thud

but I did find this link and one on ebay . looks identical rotation

ebay link

MrHalfDime

The rotation seen on the eBay coin is slightly different. But of greater significance, there is no evidence of post mint damage on the eBay coin, suggesting that it may be a legitimate mint error (rotated dies). However unlikely the coincidence, it appears that you have a post-mint-damaged coin, of the same date and mint as the apparently legitimate eBay coin.

oldsubguru

The E-bay specimen is also a "magicians coin". Look above the word AMERICA and you can see the seam.

MrHalfDime

<< <i>The E-bay specimen is also a "magicians coin". Look above the word AMERICA and you can see the seam. >>



Good eye. Nice pickup.

ricko

Interesting... a friend brought me some coins to look at... one was a British large cent..... holding it, 'something' seemed off - i.e. weight/balance - so I turned it edgewise in my fingers and it came apart - had a Kennedy half inside - really surprised me. She gave it to me, so now I have it as a curio. Cheers, RickO