Dropped Star found on 2024 Kennedy Half Dollar

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dipset512
dipset512 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I wanted to share this with the forum as researching this one was tough because there aren't many known examples out there and the literature is lacking on dropped elements.

While CRH rolls of all new Kennedy Half Dollars, I originally thought I had a DDR, which was incorrect, I was about to throw it in the change jar and figured I'd take one last look and found a star on Kennedy's cheek. I was unsure if it was raised or incuse so posted on a discussion forum. Still perplexed, I sent it in to PCGS and it was authenticated as a Mint Error - Dropped Star Obverse.



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  • Clackamas1
    Clackamas1 Posts: 1,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Interesting. Is this the result of a grease filled die, the filling falls out and is struck through? It would need to be pretty hard to make an impression. I take it this is the only one in your search?

  • dipset512
    dipset512 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭✭
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    @Clackamas1 said:
    Interesting. Is this the result of a grease filled die, the filling falls out and is struck through? It would need to be pretty hard to make an impression. I take it this is the only one in your search?

    Yes, grease filled die. Yep, the only one, I originally got 3 rolls and went back and got the rest of the new box the teller had.

  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,188 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That's really cool!

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

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  • JBK
    JBK Posts: 17,860 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 5, 2025 1:26PM
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    Hmmm. So a "dropped-letter" is basically a struck-through, correct?

    If the dropped stuff (whether grease or metal) falls away then it's a struck-through and will be incuse, and if the material is still there then it's a retained struck-through?

    I can't envision a case where the dropped item would be in relief.

    (I assume that on the OP coin the star is incuse.)

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    i've been wanting to find a dropped anything since i've started

    great find!

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • Steven59
    Steven59 Posts: 11,227 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Excellent find!

    "When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"

  • The_Dinosaur_Man
    The_Dinosaur_Man Posts: 1,592 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Looks like JFK stayed too long at the glitter party. Nice find.

    Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
    Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
    https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.

  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Super find. Congrats.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • Shurke
    Shurke Posts: 782 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That’s a really neat error. What a fun find!

  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Way cool find, I like 👍

  • erwindoc
    erwindoc Posts: 5,447 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Im amazed not only at the find, but the fact you are able to get 2024 coins at a bank to search!

  • dipset512
    dipset512 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭✭
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    @erwindoc said:
    Im amazed not only at the find, but the fact you are able to get 2024 coins at a bank to search!

    People order boxes of halves and when they find out they are new, they don't want them, so I lucked out that time.

  • raycyca
    raycyca Posts: 1,751 ✭✭✭
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    Great find! Too bad PCGS won't let you put it in the registry, that way you'd have the top POP worth a bunch of points! LOL

    You only live life once, enjoy it like it's your last day. It just MIGHT be!

    image
  • 1630Boston
    1630Boston Posts: 14,157 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    beautiful find

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • Project Numismatics
    Project Numismatics Posts: 1,886 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Nice find and follow-up with your research and submission - congrats!

  • Namvet69
    Namvet69 Posts: 9,423 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Just another look before you move on. Paid off to take that moment. Peace Roy

    BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW

  • golden
    golden Posts: 10,535 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That is a cool find.

  • hummingbird_coins
    hummingbird_coins Posts: 1,671 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That's one star you don't want to pick up.

    Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
    Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled

  • thecoinjunkie
    thecoinjunkie Posts: 52 ✭✭✭
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    Great find and a good eye to recognize it!

  • JWP
    JWP Posts: 37,333 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I have never heard of a dropped letter. After reading possible explanations of how this might have happened, I'm can now believe that there is a Santa Clause. What are the chances of this coin

    USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
    Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members

  • Greenstang
    Greenstang Posts: 1,646 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Can anyone explain how a dropped letter from the reverse got onto the obverse,
    Usually a dropped letter on the obverse is dropped from the obverse.

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 6, 2025 6:28PM
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    perhaps the obverse was the anvil and the star dropped between planchets

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @MsMorrisine said:
    perhaps the obverse was the anvil and the star dropped between planchets

    if this is the case it would be more special

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • ProofCollection
    ProofCollection Posts: 8,056 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Congrats. Here's a video on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B5UpTUF52o

  • nickelsciolist
    nickelsciolist Posts: 240 ✭✭✭
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    @erwindoc said:
    Im amazed not only at the find, but the fact you are able to get 2024 coins at a bank to search!

    Since 2023 for some reason, brand new rolls of half dollars have been showing up at the bank. I’m a roll searcher… The other day I ordered a box of half dollars and when they came in they were all brand spanking new 2024 rolls.

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    the mint has started coining them for circulation for a few years now

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • coastaljerseyguy
    coastaljerseyguy Posts: 2,127 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I can't remember the last time I paid or received a Kennedy Half in change. Not sure why the Mint produces in such volume. Serves no purpose if not used in commerce.

  • seatedlib3991
    seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,629 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I am not a numismatic expert. Can someone explain what the difference is between a dropped star and a clash mark? James

  • Clackamas1
    Clackamas1 Posts: 1,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The OP should look at the other halves it came with for a filled star, that would be a really cool pair to find one struck just before it dropped out.

  • hummingbird_coins
    hummingbird_coins Posts: 1,671 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @seatedlib3991 said:
    I am not a numismatic expert. Can someone explain what the difference is between a dropped star and a clash mark? James

    A clash mark happens when the dies hit each other without a planchet in between. In this case, there was some debris filling the cavity in the reverse die for one of the stars, and it fell out onto the obverse die and made a star-shaped indentation in the next coin.

    Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
    Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled

  • seatedlib3991
    seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,629 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @hummingbird_coins . Thank you. So this would be some sort of retained lamination i guess. James

  • JBK
    JBK Posts: 17,860 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Not at all. It has nothing to do with a lamination. :/

  • seatedlib3991
    seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,629 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @JBK. So then something failed to become a lamination and left an imprint? James

  • Shurke
    Shurke Posts: 782 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Think grease filled die, but the recess was filled with something harder than grease.

    Then that filled part fell out of the die and essentially created a struck through error.

  • seatedlib3991
    seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,629 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Shurke . The part I find most confusing is the "dropped" reference, It infers that a star from the die somehow broke off and ended up being replicated on the obverse? I have several Seated coins with clash marks. I have a quarter with a piece of wire stuck in the obverse. I have numerous pieces with lint struck thru etc. but i have a hard time thinking a piece of die actually breaking off. Of course making coins today probably has little to due with coins of old. James

  • JBK
    JBK Posts: 17,860 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 11, 2025 8:13PM
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    @seatedlib3991 said:
    @Shurke . The part I find most confusing is the "dropped" reference, It infers that a star from the die somehow broke off and ended up being replicated on the obverse? I have several Seated coins with clash marks. I have a quarter with a piece of wire stuck in the obverse. I have numerous pieces with lint struck thru etc. but i have a hard time thinking a piece of die actually breaking off. Of course making coins today probably has little to due with coins of old. James

    The star design was incuse on the die so it could not "break off" the die.

    As has been explained, the incuse star on the die became filled with a solid substance (grease/metal filings/etc.), which at some point became dislodged and "dropped" out of the engraved/incuse star on the die. That solid star-shaped debris then "dropped" onto the next planchet (or the lower anvil die) and was then struck into the next coin.

    If that struck-through star-shaped debris remained embedded on the OP's coin after it was struck then it would be a retained "dropped star", but the struck-through debris obviously fell out of the OP's coin after it was struck so it left a star-shaped impression.

  • ProofCollection
    ProofCollection Posts: 8,056 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Here is the ANA article.
    https://readingroom.money.org/a-star-is-born/?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Phyw5nWZfzbU0U4PnSi2jXeebx54_UyERK-owFyD8-HfGJha2Q53eaQDvlwX7mBkq1WUORnzbtRZLh8BqWVNJHuVD5A&_hsmi=368323361&utm_content=368322461

  • dipset512
    dipset512 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭✭
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    This coin has been sent to GC for consignment. I'll update this post with the link once it is live.

  • taropatch99
    taropatch99 Posts: 268 ✭✭✭
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    Good eye. An amazing find.

    Formerly known as deadmunny
    Positive transactions with: dcarr, JWP, Cent1225, slantycouch, dontippet, Gerard, Scrapman1077, USMC_6115, rah1959

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