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First Strike 1964 JFK halves
TurtleCat
Posts: 4,685 ✭✭✭✭✭
This is news from ATS ultimately but probably interesting to everyone here who collects JFKs. It’s an interesting story. Would you pay a premium for FS on this issue? Myself, no, but it is a cool find nonetheless.
https://coinnews.net/2020/04/16/ngc-certifies-early-issue-1964-d-kennedy-half-dollars/
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Cool story, as to your question no I wouldn't pay a premium for one but I'm sure many will.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
No comment.
Depends,,,,, how much is the premium? How many labeled as 1st Strike?
I have a roll from the 1st day of release that my Grandfather had my Mom and her 5 brothers and sisters and him stood in line to get,,,, there was a 1 roll per person limit at the time.
The term "pump and dump" comes to mind.
i like that little metal pail and canvass bag better than their new homes...
I don’t think they’ve hit the market yet so I don’t know what the premium is. I don’t generally follow first strike stuff so I’m not sure what to expect.
The story indicated 2000 were in the bag. All 1964 D.
I would buy one if not too much premium,,,, it would be nice to have one.
I’ve always disliked the term “first strike”, when applied to coins that were merely struck and/or released “early”.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Interesting story. Thanks for posting it.
Interesting but I would not pay a premium. Too bad they are not PCGS.
I think I will have to pass at $495 for choice BU and $1695 for MS-65
Yes indeed ifthevamzarockin. Look at the pic for the MS-65, not even "all there" for the grade.
I was under the impression that ATS stopped using the "First Strike" terminology and is using "Early Release" or something like that.
I’ve always disliked the term “first strike”, when applied to coins that were merely struck and/or released “early”.
If the bag was dated March 19, 1964 - it seems like the coins might very well be first strikes in some sense. I don't know when striking was begun, but considering that the coins had to be authorized, designed, approved by Jackie Kennedy for hair modification - March 19 seems like it could be a very early group of coins.
I knew it would happen.
It would be nice to know in what sense they were among the first strikes. 😉 Among the first 5000? 10,000? 50,000?
To you, after approximately what number of production would such a coin lose its significance as being among the first struck? My personal cutoff would probably be at number 100 or lower.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
As a Kennedy guy, no on paying premium for a "first Strike". It is strictly the grade for me.
Kennedys are my quest...
Yes, essentially a marketing gimmick - first strike really has no definition in this context.
Successful BST Transactions: erwindoc, VTchaser, moursund, robkool, RelicKING, Herb_T, Meltdown, ElmerFusterpuck, airplanenut
maybe someone with more expertise on bags can chime in here - the story states coinage was started in January, with this bag being dated March 19. Are coins bagged soon (immediately) after being minted, suggesting these specific coints were made at least 7 weeks into production?
I think first strike on a new set of dies would be a more apt and relevant definition; of course, these things are probably not something the mint can really keep track of in a large-scale production environment.
Successful BST Transactions: erwindoc, VTchaser, moursund, robkool, RelicKING, Herb_T, Meltdown, ElmerFusterpuck, airplanenut
People are going to pay out the wazoo for those 🤦🏼♂️
BHNC #248 … 140 and counting.
And yet another reason I won't be buying one..... I lost my wazoo years ago.
The 1964's were struck in massive quantities. With that date, they may have been among the first few million or the first few tens of millions struck, but nowhere near Early or First.
The mystique of JFK lives on, so much so that in 2020 money will be made off of his memory.
Funny thing is that if JFK ran for president today it is likely he would never be nominated by the Democrat party.
It is interesting to read and hear some of the speeches he gave as a candidate and as a congressman, senator and president.
I do like JFK half dollars.
January 30, 1964, Denver started production of regular half dollars with the new Kennedy design.
February 11, 1964, Treasury and Mint officials held ceremonies concurrently at the Denver and Philadelphia Mints to commemorate the striking of the new half dollars.
On March 5, 1964, the initial delivery of some 26,000,000 of the new Kennedy half dollars were made to the Federal Reserve Banks for eventual issue to the local banks.
Looks like a one-way money making scheme.
Associated Press photo of the first day of issue.
That is interesting... No backstory on where the bag came from?? I am a Kennedy half collector... well, I did build a set years ago... then stopped for a while.... I do have the special issues...but do not have the mint sets over the last 8 or 9 years...I should pull that set out and fill in the blanks....Cheers, RickO
I didn’t see any backstory but I didn’t look too hard beyond this article. I’m a bit surprised these also don’t appear to have much toning. I would have expected a little. To me, the value of this hoard would be in having it still sealed in the bag.
Good read. Very nice to go back in that era, 1964, my wife's birth year. I love the "FG" varieties. Esp. the 1966 SMS No FG.
First strikes, not so much.
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.1964 Accented Hair Kennedy Proofs: The original First Strike Kennedy Half.
Thank you. These are facts. The labels are bilgewater.
The designations are a bit silly and arbitrary. I guess it sells or people get into it. But that’s neither here nor there. I’d still like to have the original mint bag sealed and full of them...
Holy crap - at those prices I hope a free roll of toilet paper is included.
At least my 1964-P Kennedy half dollar has historic documentation to make the claim as being "among the first half dollars to be issued by the Treasury". The President Johnson gift letter has the correct date for a first day of issue.
They were worth more sealed. Now THAT'S a rare find.
Cheers
Bob
DrDarryl,
I really like the letter and attached half dollar. I was 13 years old when the half came out and it created quite a bit of excitement. How did you come into the Presidential letter?
Thanks for sharing
Purchased from the estate of Congressman Stephens. I also have a Eisenhower dollar (grifted by President Nixon)
Another marketing gimmick that I saw on eBay 5/19/2020.
The coins came from an original mint bag like all old coins and most of the other Kennedy halves. How is this news or worthy of a special designation? I wonder how much Tomaska and crew paid for the special label. I can't wait to see the exorbitant asking prices from the cable TV gang on these.
Choice BU? Not even a normal grade? Not sure I’d pay more than a melt for a 63 graded JFK.
Where are the prices?
I wonder if Rick will add his "Everest" stickers.
It's almost like NGC is turning into ANACS and ICG.
Whatever happened to Russ, from the old PCGS forum. He was always on the hunt for the AH Kennedys.
Did you mean grifted or gifted? With Nixon you have to wonder...
Both are very neat finds. What does something like that go for at auction?
Sadly he passed away a while ago.
the old part fools with their money route again huh? not amazed at what people will fall for nowadays and yes many will pay those prices cause in their minds they can flip them for $$$
Best offer sale at link below
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LVtAVAbnvoVXzHkZA
No positive comment.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
Too bad they can't number every individual one with a Certificate. Even without the "First Strike" title would be fine. Yes, than I wouldn't mind paying the premium. I would love to own say, "#100 out of 2000". Pretty cool.
This way if some had a certain variety, think of the rarity than. Wow!
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.Looks like the line I was in when the original iPhone made its debut.
I would be more interested in a SMS 1964 half, than a 1st issue/strike one.
That is so COOL!!!!!!