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Grade this 1965 business strike Kennedy Half.

RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
Picked this up at the show today:

image

Large images here:

Click for large obverse image.

Click for large reverse image.

Blazing luster and a cartwheel that will make you cross-eyed. Save for a couple very minor ticks on the obverse, the fields are essentially immaculate. Some minor hits to the portrait, but in the less obtrusive areas. Beautiful shield.

I think it's a solid MS66. Your thoughts?

Russ, NCNE

Comments

  • fivecentsfivecents Posts: 11,207 ✭✭✭✭✭
    MS67+++ imo
  • WOW - that's one heck of a beauty Russ - it looks like there is the slightest distortion on the front part of the cheek which, if noticeable enough, might keep it from a 67, but to me it's a lock MS66. Now the trick is to get PCGS to accept it as a business strike and not call it an SMS.

    It's still a 0% excellent coin however image
  • WWWWWW Posts: 2,609 ✭✭✭
    Why is it so blurry behind his head? Or is it only me? Never-the-less, a very nice coin.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>MS67+++ imo >>



    Fivecents,

    The only way it would get in to a 67 holder is if the eye appeal puts it there. Technically, I think it comes up short. But, it does have a stunning visual impact to it and grading services are sometimes known to give a little bump when the coin grabs them hard enough.



    << <i>Now the trick is to get PCGS to accept it as a business strike and not call it an SMS. >>



    Frank,

    That is, of course, a concern. They're notorious for doing that to business strikes that look exceedingly nice.

    BTW, the dealer had it graded MS65 with a price of $11. Being the poor person that I am, I was able to get it for $8.50. I told the dealer that if I could get a little discount I would be able to eat lunch. image

    Russ, NCNE
  • fivecentsfivecents Posts: 11,207 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The only imperfections I see are 2 side by side small tics at the mouth/cheek. Are there more tics than that?image
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    Fivecents,

    There are also a couple ticks on his lower neck, and one running horizontally in his hair right above the sideburn.

    Edited to add: The one above the sideburn is really more like a slight scrape of a high point in the hair. Actually very hard to see on the coin itself.

    Edited again to add: It would sure make my day if you were right and I'm wrong! image

    Russ, NCNE


  • << <i>I was able to get it for $8.50. I told the dealer that if I could get a little discount I would be able to eat lunch. >>



    You should've discussed your beater ECONOLINE van with him - you probably could've gotten the coin at melt then image
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    It's an Aerostar, you toadie! image

    Russ, NCNE
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    any way to sort out the SMS-business strike question using diagnostics from the Wiles book?

    al h.image
  • Al:

    The word I've heard is that if PCGS can't take a cursory look at a 1965-67 coin and decide whether or not it's an SMS or a business strike, they classify it as SMS. I've heard of collectors sending coins freshly out of original rolls from those years and having them all come back with the SMS designation.
  • fivecentsfivecents Posts: 11,207 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The surface luster looks like a bussiness strike. Do you agree Russ or Frank?
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    hey Frank

    it's been discussed quite a bit that it's reasonable to assume all roll coins aren't necessarily business strikes. if a collector had a high grade coin and could determine it was without a doubt a business strike, it would be a simple matter of having ANACS or SEGS holder it as such, then a crossover attempt.

    this scenario is in the perfect world!!

    al h.image
  • If this was worth submitting, I don't think they'd confuse it with an SMS... image

    image
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  • bennybravobennybravo Posts: 1,950 ✭✭✭
    Nuce coin Russ.My guess, for the PCGS grade,whether it is or t'aint MS66 SMS. image
  • Cam40Cam40 Posts: 8,146
    so the rub is a high grade SMS-year business strike is worth more than a similar grade SMS coin?



  • XpipedreamRXpipedreamR Posts: 8,059 ✭✭
    The reverse looks fabulous(66-67), but the obverse strikes me as 65ish
  • misterRmisterR Posts: 2,305 ✭✭
    I think it would come back PCGS MS65/66 or PCGS MS67 SMS, that has been my experience with the 65,66 and 67 coins. The safest way out of a tricky problem, if you know what I mean.
    Personally, I plan to stay away from the 65, 66 and 67 coins; been burned too many times. image
    Hate to post a negative message on such a nice day, will now end with a smiley! image
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Beautiful coin but it doesn't look SMS. MS-66 is likely the best it would go
    because of problems. The scratch on the temple alone should keep it out
    of MS-67.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • itsnotjustmeitsnotjustme Posts: 8,779 ✭✭✭
    I submitted a bunch of SMS coins once. A dime came back MS67 (non-SMS). I told them about the error, and returned it. It came back SMS MS68.
    Give Blood (Red Bags) & Platelets (Yellow Bags)!
  • 66Tbird66Tbird Posts: 2,858 ✭✭✭
    What is the SMS/business diagnostic for 65-67 series?
    Need something designed and 3D printed?
  • DHeathDHeath Posts: 8,472 ✭✭✭
    Speaking only of the 65 Half, the first two DMRs are indistinguishable. DMR-1 (business strike) and DMR-2 (SMS) are indistinguishable. The other ten die pairs exhibit markers. Making a good determination for the coins struck with pairs 3-12 would require full variety attribution. I've always been of the opinion many of the business strike coins were struck with recycled SMS dies, but because the coins were co-mingled, proving so is impossible. Frankly, some of the SMS coins were struck so poorly and occasionally with abraded dies that they are impossible to identify.
    Developing theory is what we are meant to do as academic researchers
    and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>so the rub is a high grade SMS-year business strike is worth more than a similar grade SMS coin? >>



    Cam40,

    A LOT more. There are only ten (10) 1965 business strikes in MS67, with 62 in MS66. There are a zillion SMS coins in MS67.

    An MS66 business strike is about a $90 to $100 coin, an MS66 SMS might bring $15 on a good day. I don't know what an MS67 business strike would bring, but I'd guess it would be around the $1500 mark. An MS67 SMS, around $30.

    Russ, NCNE

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