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Error specialists have you ever seen...............

SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,618 ✭✭✭✭✭
.................. a clad Kennedy half with a crack [completely through the coin so that light shines through it] running from the rim into the bust of Kennedy (from the 9 in the date up to the lower left corner of the neck, up the neck line to the jaw line and through the jaw line up to judst below the eye, with the crack not being straight).

I found such a coin (1984) while searching through rolls. I can not figure out if it is a mint error or is a coin that whas damaged post minting. The edges of the crack are not jagged and it is so thin that I could barely (with difficulty) insert a single sheet of paper through the crack. The rim area of the coin extending about 1/8 of in towards the center looks like it has been bent down in relation to the rest of the coin. Sort of looks like a bottlecap. I assume this characteristic of the coin could have resulted from die/planchet contact in the striking chamber (sort of like a capped die planchet, only in the very earliest of stages).

Any thoughts?

Comments

  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭
    Pics please!!!
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!

  • LALASD4LALASD4 Posts: 3,602 ✭✭✭
    Pics please!!!

    A picture is worth a thousand words.image

    I think you loss most people after ten words.
    Coin Collector, Chicken Owner, Licensed Tax Preparer & Insurance Broker/Agent.
    San Diego, CA


    image
  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    Oh yeah, pics would be good.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • Gotta see this.
    image
  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,253 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How many replies with no information and just pic requests do you think you'll get? image
  • sinin1sinin1 Posts: 7,500
    occasionally some blanks get some metal punched out for assay purposes - I thought it was about 1/8 inch wide but prestrike and would close in on larger coin


    can't remember the name of error
  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,618 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Sorry, can not do pics.

    I will have to work on that.

    I am a bit wordy. Comes with being a lawyer.
  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,618 ✭✭✭✭✭
    TTT. I am taking the cracked 1984 half to a dealer whose opinion I value for him to review same. I will give his opinions on my return.
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,733 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My guess is post mint damage.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,618 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Just got back.

    Unfortunately the shop is closed. He is usually open on Monday till 4 or 5. Maybe he took a long weekend. I'll try again tomorrow.
  • gonzergonzer Posts: 3,052 ✭✭✭✭✭
    There have been examples of damaged planchets with cracks or fissures present, that after being struck have squeezed almost shut, but leaving enough of a gap to actually put a piece of string through. If I remember correctly, the planchets were punched near or at the end of the strip.


  • << <i>There have been examples of damaged planchets with cracks or fissures present, that after being struck have squeezed almost shut, but leaving enough of a gap to actually put a piece of string through >>


    I can understand that for a homogenous alloy coin, but I find it very hard to believe for a clad coin.
  • IGWTIGWT Posts: 4,975
    -- "I can understand that for a homogenous alloy coin, but I find it very hard to believe for a clad coin." --

    Conder: Please explain why.
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,733 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Clad is three layers and each layer won't have the same crack.

    It's not impossible (highly unlikely) that a clad strip or planchet might be broken. I've seen
    struck coins which were subjected to sheer forces at the mint but these were obviously dam-
    aged by a machine.

    It's hard to imagine what might have happened to this coin.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,618 ✭✭✭✭✭
    TTT.

    Today Hyperion posted a thread about "Shrinkage". In it he posted a pic of a 1998 clad quarter that is very interesting.

    The picture of the quarter [plus a picture of a 1972 Ike posted in the same thread] shows the same look of the 1984 half I have mentioned in this thread [only the quarter does not have a crack in it].

    If any of you are interested, please check out the pics in Hyperion's thread.
  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,618 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Finally got to show the cracked 1984 half to a dealer I know whose knowledge is substantial.

    He gave it a thorough inspection with a loupe and a microscope. His conclusion is that the coin was damaged post minting, through the use of a very fine band saw. He said he saw a few items which initially made him consider the possibility of a mint error. But after giving the coin a good look, he opined it to be post mint damage. He stated that the band saw would create tiny, sharp jagged edges that rise above the surface of the coin on one side [these were present]. He further said that inside the crack the metal on the surface of the crack would be crsytaline in appearance if it was a mint error [in this case no crystaline appearance was present, instead there was a striated appearance consistent with a band saw cutting through the metal].

    On well, no big deal. The half cost me 50 cents and it is worth 50 cents.

    Maybe next time I will hit the error jackpot.
  • You might want to get some pics and post them anyway. Most dealers don't know SQUAT about error coins.
  • 19Lyds19Lyds Posts: 26,492 ✭✭✭✭
    That could not possibly a typical garage variety band saw, perhaps someone in a machine shop got ............. creative!

    "Hey Ernie, you think this thing has silver in it??" image
    I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.



    The name is LEE!

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