1964 Uniface Half Dollar

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Zoins
Zoins Posts: 34,489 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited November 8, 2021 9:45AM in U.S. Coin Forum

(1964) Half Dollar - Uniface, Double Struck Error - PCGS MS66

This is an interesting error. How does the uniface part of this happen? What was this side of the coin struck against? Was it a flat die, another planchet, or another coin?

From the photo, it seems like there’s a Kennedy impression so could this be a struck-thru grease instead of uniface?

Is there any known provenance for this?

Comments

  • Byers
    Byers Posts: 1,971 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Zions

    Yes, this mint error is a nice combination of unusual errors…

    mikebyers.com Dealer in Major Mint Errors, Die Trials & Patterns - Author of NLG Best World Coin Book World's Greatest Mint Errors - Publisher & Editor of minterrornews.com.
  • braddick
    braddick Posts: 25,185 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Lesson learned: The grade is determined by the struck side (reverse) and not the error side (obverse)?

  • Zoins
    Zoins Posts: 34,489 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 8, 2021 9:55AM
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    @FredWeinberg said:
    Actually, it's a Uniface OBV., not Rev.

    So it’s an error label too!

    There were two unstruck planchets in the collar when the dies came down. One has a mostly normal obv. and a uniface reverse, and this is the bottom piece - a normal reverse, w/ a uniface Obv. strike, and a second strike 95% Off Center.

    Two planchets makes sense given what it looks like.

    Using “uniface” to describe this is interesting because when the term is used for die trials or medals, usually one side is against a flat die, so the faces are completely flat, not mostly flat. Other thing is that “uniface” for die trials is intentional but an unintentional error here.

  • BuffaloIronTail
    BuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It's hard to comprehend that the other coin involved in this conflagration is still out there somewhere.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @BuffaloIronTail said:
    It's hard to comprehend that the other coin involved in this conflagration is still out there somewhere.

    Pete

    Not necessarily. Mint could have found one and not the other

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • FredWeinberg
    FredWeinberg Posts: 6,039 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The deal that came from had a few 2-pc Sets
    of Kennedy's.......

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • 7Jaguars
    7Jaguars Posts: 8,019 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I have a pair of Brit 1965 pennies that were struck together.
    Question for the Master Fred: if the reverse is the known (struck) side and the obverse is unknown in that it is blank, would not the identifier be the primary identified side (reverse)?

    Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
    Well, just Love coins, period.
  • FredWeinberg
    FredWeinberg Posts: 6,039 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Not quite sure of your question -

    Obv. 'unknown' ?

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • seanq
    seanq Posts: 8,835 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I would have described that as struck through a capped obverse die, but in the end it's the same sort of explanation, another planchet got between the coin in the OP and the obverse die.

    Sean Reynolds

    Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.

    "Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,753 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I'm guessing that error had some help at the mint.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
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  • brocmitchell
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    I don't understand the logic that leads to this coin being described as "Uniface Obverse". Uni means one and face is synonymous with side as with a polygon (imagine the coin is a short cylinder). This coin has one face, the reverse, therefore it is Uniface Reverse. If it was intentionally struck as such, it would be certainly called Uniface Reverse, as it bears the reverse image. On such an intentionally uniface coin, it could be said the Reverse design is now functionally the obverse of the object and the reverse is blank, but it doesn't change the fact that objectively the Reverse is what is displayed on the uniface coin. How does being an error lead the description to contradict logic? I contend that uniface doesn't describe the circumstance by which one face is blank, but rather that only one side bears a design, and the proper way to describe it is by saying which side is depicted. Being blank is inoperative, the struck side is what makes the object more than just a piece of metal. I suppose if "it is what it is" I'll just have to accept the logical fallacy... Thank you!

  • moursund
    moursund Posts: 3,207 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Ok, why the coppery/brown color on the OBV?

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  • LanceNewmanOCC
    LanceNewmanOCC Posts: 19,999 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @seanq said:
    I would have described that as struck through a capped obverse die, but in the end it's the same sort of explanation, another planchet got between the coin in the OP and the obverse die.

    Sean Reynolds

    .
    another wording i've seen is late-stage brockage but maybe that refers to the top piece and not the bottom?

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  • Zoins
    Zoins Posts: 34,489 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @FredWeinberg said:
    The deal that came from had a few 2-pc Sets of Kennedy's.......

    Can you associate this piece and the deal with any provenance? Did you handle this piece and the deal?

  • Zoins
    Zoins Posts: 34,489 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 9, 2021 9:54AM
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    @seanq said:
    I would have described that as struck through a capped obverse die, but in the end it's the same sort of explanation, another planchet got between the coin in the OP and the obverse die.
    Sean Reynolds

    Struck thru seems to work. I think of this particular piece as “struck-thru planchet” ;) I’m not sure what the other piece would be called here, the same?

    Uniface seems like a strange way to describe this since the face isn’t completely flat.

  • messydesk
    messydesk Posts: 20,814 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @FredWeinberg said:
    Actually, it's a Uniface OBV., not Rev.

    There were two unstruck planchets in the collar
    when the dies came down. One has a mostly
    normal obv. and a uniface reverse, and this is the
    bottom piece - a normal reverse, w/ a uniface Obv.
    strike, and a second strike 95% Off Center.

    Interesting. I thought "uniface reverse" meant that only one side has the design, and it's the reverse, not that the reverse design was the one that was missing.

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Really interesting error, and it would be great to have the other coin that would have been part of the problem. Would look great in a dual holder. Cheers, RickO

  • moursund
    moursund Posts: 3,207 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ricko said:
    Really interesting error, and it would be great to have the other coin that would have been part of the problem. Would look great in a dual holder. Cheers, RickO

    Yes, but if you framed them and hung them on your wall, would you display the error sides or the properly struck sides?

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  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @moursund.... The error sides would be displayed, but my frame would have the hinged bottom so the display could be lowered and the 'good' sides viewed. I prepare for such things. Cheers, RickO

  • moursund
    moursund Posts: 3,207 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ricko said:
    @moursund.... The error sides would be displayed, but my frame would have the hinged bottom so the display could be lowered and the 'good' sides viewed. I prepare for such things. Cheers, RickO

    Or I suppose you could use mirrors to display both sides at once...

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  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That would be a poor reflection of reality.... ;) Cheers, RickO

  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,168 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @PerryHall said:
    I'm guessing that error had some help at the mint.

    Why? I see no reason to doubt it.

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • 7Jaguars
    7Jaguars Posts: 8,019 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 9, 2021 10:51AM
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    As per Brocmitchell, that is what I was trying to say.
    In other sciences they would have used the reverse as the primary identifier and therefore it would def. have been uniface reverse strike - as PCGS indicated on the slab.

    Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
    Well, just Love coins, period.

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