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2014-D Unc Kennedy Half Dollar Silver vs Clad
ProofCollection
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Are there any resources or is anyone familiar enough with the two issues to identify any die markers to tell the Unc from the Silver coin for the 2014-D Unc Kennedy Half?
PCGS Coin #530179 (Silver)
PCGS Coin #530183 (Clad)
Both have the same weight (11.30 g per Coinfacts) so I'm wondering if there are other ways to tell them apart?
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silver from clad?
if you're having trouble, try the tissue test. toilet paper over both. well lit. the silver will be white
Even in a PCGS slab?
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I'm not an expert, but I do have two of each Clad and Silver 2014-D's and have studied mine and several others over the last couple of years. I'm not aware of any die markers that distinguish the two, but there are differences. PS: PCGS doesn't always distinguish these two coins correctly when grading, and an auction house will sometimes miss the differences as well when they list them(ask me how I know)...
The differences that I've noted:
4) They don't weigh the same in my opinion. 1.8 g is the difference and it's consistent between the 2-clad, and the 2-silver(heavier) that I have. Yes, I have a cheap mini-scale, but anyway...
3) The Clad has a finish/texture that is often much smoother than the silver, very much PL in many cases, though they don't recognize PL for the Clad(SP) or Silver*(MS). *They do recognize the S-Enhanced Unc in PL & DMPL (from the 2014 - 4 coin Ag set) however.
2) The clad will almost always appear darker than the silver when photographed straight on(TrueView), and the clad will almost always show translucent water spots (lower grades) when photographed straight on, whereas, the silver never has water spots.
1) When the silver gets a ding on the device, you will see a dark mark in bright lights(TV), much like a Morgan device ding, it reflects back dark. The clad will not display a dark ding similar to the silver, they reflect as light colored dings.
Last but not least: (and the most obvious, but sometimes missed) -- THE EDGE
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Is the edge always coppery on the clad? I think PCGS has misattributed some of these.
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Yes, always coppery edges, yes, PCGS most certainly has misattributed some of these.
Take a look at my goodie in hand, It's supposed to be a Top Pop 70 Clad coin(#530183) - Nope.
It's the 'plate coin' at the top on coinfacts, and it's wrong, not clad- It's an MS Silver coin from the 4 coin set along with most of those at the top of the "View More Images" page.
The clad coins start showing up consistently at SP67. Notice how dark they are - those are the clad coins.
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2014-d-50c-50th-anniversary-unc-set/images/530183
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Yeah the copper on the side is the big giveaway for the clad. It just has a darker look that is not “silvery”
I can't imagine not being able to tell a clad from silver half dollar. Key would be edge color, white vs copper streak. Half dollars and dollars weight difference in hand should suffice. JMO
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
I don't collect very many clad Kennedy Half Dollars, but here goes with some Proof coins.
The clad coins are not as bright as the silver.
Clad
Silver
Most sources state weights for Kennedy Halves as follows:
90% - 12.50 gms.
49% - 11.50 gms.
CuNi - 11.34 gms
Well, just Love coins, period.
Well that is what I had always thought but then I actually have an example of a Silver slabbed as clad so I had come to the erroneous belief that on this issue you could not detect composition by looking at the edge. PCGS tricked me.
http://ProofCollection.Net
The 50th ann-D MS69 Silver is valued at $35
The 50th ann-D SP69 Clad is valued at $250