This is just a little information on one of my favorite, often overlooked, U.S. coin: the Kennedy half dollar. More specifically, it's about the 1964 proof with accented hair variety. According to statistics, between one and three percent of the 1964 proof halves were accented hair varieties, which adds up to between 40K and 120K. There are four basic ways to identify the '64 accented hair variety, broken into two categories: Obverse and Reverse. The easiest way is to look above the ear on the obverse for a wishbone shaped formation comprised of hair, hence the accented hair name. Secondly, check the I in Libery for what I call an unfinished serif. Basically, the left part of the line underneath the I is shortened substantially. Now, the next two are not in any way a guarantee for indentification, but are more used for verification of the first two ways, and also can be used to help verify counterfeiting. First, look below the UNUM at the rays. In the accented hair variety, the rays will appear to be intersected and broken by the stars, while in the regular variety the rays continue without being interrupted. Now, the final way is to check the designer's initials. Look to the inside of the eagles claws that are holding the arrows. There you'll find Frank Gasparro's initials--FG. In the accented hair variety, the G will be straight, kind of squared off, while in the regular version the G is more rounded at the top. The accented hair variety is one modern coin that I feel is very overlooked, so there are definitely some opportunities to come out ahead as most people don't know what to look for. Now go out and cherrypick away! Pictures from http://www.ipotad.com/pages/ah2.html more pictures available as well
You know, I have a set of P's & D's from 64 thru 2009. I've often wondered what the characteristics were but for some reason, I've never bothered to find out. I had no idea there were this many distinctions on them. Great write up. Thanks! :thumb: Kind of makes me want to get one now for some reason.
Very nice thread. I actually "cherrypicked" one of these from my local coin dealer, but it was in really, really bad shape. Maybe I thought I was cherrypicking when I really wasn't....ya know what I mean?
Thanks for all the replies Like I said, I just love the Kennedy half, and really, I think they are very much underappreciated and undervalued. And thank you all for the nominations as well Jarrid
I have a 64 MS67CAM which is a very nice coin. I'm planning on getting a short set of the '64 varieties.
Have you ever seen or heard of a 1964 accented hair that does not exhibit the 2 characteristics on the obverse but does have the 2 characteristics on the reverse?
If you're referring to the Hair and the Truncated "I", if that were the case, it wouldn't be an accented hair. The reverse die has been known on none accented hair proofs. There are also several really cool DDO Accented Hair Kennedy's. I negrlected to take close ups on these two. (My Bad!)
This might be the case if your coin is a business strike. The Accented Hair variety is a proof only variety.