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Accented Hair variety?
Jody526
Posts: 296 ✭
If you have knowledge of this particular die variety, I would appreciate your input.
Link (click here)
Link (click here)
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
~PATRICK HENRY~
Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
~PATRICK HENRY~
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The name is LEE!
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
....hope this helps
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
That is an interesting article that you provided the link for. I had not seen it before.
However I am not convinced that:
1) Mrs. Kennedy had anything to do with the accented hair. She did have input on the hair.
2) That the accentuated hair was the first version.
Frank Gasparo, the reverse designer, referred all questions on the obverse to Gilroy Roberts.
Gilroy Roberts, the obverse designer, denied all knowledge and even the very existence of this variety. I sent him one, but he never answered.
<<Before 1964, half dollars were a regular part of American commerce and every cash drawer had space for half dollars. >>
True, except it was more an illusion than reality. I cashiered at a super market. Daily we got many rolls of quarters at the bank. Never, ever, did we get halves. Customers would spend halves and we would use those for change if we had them. Banks had plenty of them and gave them out one by one regularily in the course of normal business.
<< <i><<If you have knowledge of this particular die variety, I would appreciate your input.>>
That is an interesting article that you provided the link for. I had not seen it before.
However I am not convinced that:
1) Mrs. Kennedy had anything to do with the accented hair. She did have input on the hair.
2) That the accentuated hair was the first version.
Frank Gasparo, the reverse designer, referred all questions on the obverse to Gilroy Roberts.
Gilroy Roberts, the obverse designer, denied all knowledge and even the very existence of this variety. I sent him one, but he never answered. >>
.......did you ever get the half back?
And remember just because it is not a Cameo or Deep Cameo those did not become common place until the late seventies and eighties. That is why early proof Kennedy’s carry such a high premium in CAM and DCAM.
I know that "Russ" is a dealer in this type variety, and would like to hear his opinion.
He has helped me before with questions concerning 1964 SMS.
I'm afraid that Kennedy halfs are not my area.
Sorry if the picture isn't the best.
Maybe your computer software can enhance it.
Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
~PATRICK HENRY~
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
edited to add: This image is in Russ's Accented Hair Image Folder....He said, and I quote: "That's one I appreciate!"
No, I never heard anything. That is quite a contrast to his initial copious gracious reply. By the way, it was a complete 1964 proof set.
That was years ago and I forget how I mailed it. There would be a very slight chance that it might have been lost in transit to him.
<< <i>An amazing example of this variety as imaged by the great one.....Mark Goodman.
edited to add: This image is in Russ's Accented Hair Image Folder....He said, and I quote: "That's one I appreciate!"
That doesn't look like an AH.
1) Mrs. Kennedy had anything to do with the accented hair. She did have input on the hair.
2) That the accentuated hair was the first version.>>
After further reflection I admit that is probably exactly how it all happened. I will always wonder though.
It was not the government's intention that they would get out and Gilroy Roberts did not realize that they had.
I will have to dig out his original letter and check his exact wording. Further insights and revisions may be along in a few days.
He was guessing that what I was seeing was die damage. I don't think so.
.........is that a great big finger print on that beauty?
<< <i>.........is that a great big finger print on that beauty?
No, that is how the die imparted texture onto Jack's neck, but is does look like he had a severe case of shingles.
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
<<I know that "Russ" is a dealer in this type variety, and would like to hear his opinion.
He has helped me before with questions concerning 1964 SMS.>>
From the second link referenced in this thread.
I am a bit late but finally dug out my letter of May 7, 1984 from Gilroy Roberts, the designer of the obverse of the Kennedy half dollar.
I had asked him about the accentuated hair version. Here are some excerpts:
"... this is the first time this accented hair variety 1964 proof JFK half dollar has come to my attention.
"From this positive steel hub trial dies were made and trial coin strikes were the ones Mrs. Kenndy approved on condition that Pres. Kennedy's hair have more accents"
"To carry out Mrs. Kennedy's suggestion I went back to the 5 inch dia. negative plaster and modified the hair and made a 2nd 5 inch positive galvano and from this a 2nd 1 3/16" positive hub reduction. The 1st hub was defaced to prevent any mixup."
"Trial dies were made and trial coin strikes were approved by secretary of the treasury Mr. Dillon."
"... no changes were made in either the master die or the hubs after the 2nd or final hub."
"I know nothing was done intentionaly to alter any of the hubs or dies for the JFK 1964 proof half dollar, but the possibility exists for a working hub to become injured or dented by being bumped by a sharp edge or hard object in a way that could creat (sic) the effect described."
Note Mrs. Kennedy did ask for a change. She asked for MORE accents not less. I vaguely remember newspaer accounts saying she asked that the hair would be more unkempt or mussed up. Does anybody have coverage of that time?
It does not sound like Mrs. Kennedy's comments have anything to do with the accentuated half. But what is the story behind it?
It is an interesting variety to collect, but I don't really see it as a significant alteration of his hair appearence.
edited to add - I remember now. It was Douglas Manship in the Numismatist who said - "His final medal was Kennedy's Inaugural piece. The president-elect's wife, Jacqueline, had written a college term paper on Paul Manship's sculpture, and SHE had suggested Manship to the inaugural committee."
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
We have Mrs. Kennedy's granted request to increase the highlights before the coin was issued.
We have the limited issue accented hair of 1964. The fact that it didn't stick makes me think it was unrelated to Mrs.
Kennedy's request.
In 1964 a lock of hair extended over the tail of R LIBERTY. By early 1971 it merged with the R. By late 1971 a new master artwork was in use and that lock was cut off before reaching the R. All 1972's were similiar in my experience. In 1973 that little piece of hair was restored.
There have been changes since then.
Not to mention a overhaul of the dies for the proofs and business struck coins starting in 1991.
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
I note that by 2000 (probably starting 1991) , the lock of hair is again separated from the tail of the R. The hair part is stronger than ever. That sounds like two changes that Mrs. Kennedy would not have approved of.