Post your Kennedy Halves!!

Some upgrades for the 82 and 83 dates in my Dansco--higher level MS, with some tone
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I will try to get better photos on 2 in books with out plastic no showing up so dark.
PDF has copywriter Whitman marked on the pgs he fax me

 

I upgraded my 82 AND 83 P and D dates for the Dansco. After looking for a while, I found the 4 above, and they were not expensive--nicely toned, and mid level MS, as opposed to lower level MS. Those two dates are very hard to find in nice condition, as there were no mint sets that year, and most of the rolls have been picked through for high MS coins to slab. These were from rolls obviously, and nice examples--look like 65 to me.

 

Here are the Satin Kennedy's they did.

 

Should have posted this here where you experts are, but search didn't bring up this thread. So I mistakenly posted here: http://www.cointalk.com/t31790/#post1640087

Anyway, what do you all know about the redesign of the Kennedy Half in 1993(?) It's like a facelift. He was slimmed down, his hair cut, cheekbones raised, and jawbone strengthened. Most obviously, the overall size of the bust was dramatically reduced. The other obverse devices were also tweaked.

Sorry my own photography is so crappy....I need to work on that and will try to post something better.

 

Here's a new pic which attempts yet again to isolate the issue.
I'm still getting way too many spurious reflections.
May have to try posting a video next!


Click to enlarge, as usual

 

You are correct sir. The lower relief design is something you see adopted on all coinage during the 90's. The higher points of the devices are lowered, which gives the coins a flatter look, and diminish the possibility of weak strikes.

Here are a few of mine...

 

Dealer shots yet as I've not made up my mind on it.

Thoughts?

 

My latest quartet, courtesy of gbroke. The 64D is going into my Dansco set - the rest are going to PCGS and ultimately into my registry.

 

I was looking at that one too, rev. Should be a good coin - I've had good dealings with that seller, but his pics are a bit juiced. If you get it, my guess is that it won't be that bright. Still, it looks like a great album piece. If you don't buy it, I'll snag it myself.

 

Snag away, I'm looking at a few other things and I have had some great dealings with that seller on many items.

 

Thank you sir. In that case, for my latest acquisition, see post #429.

 

Look forward to seeing it when it arrives.

 

I have several toned proofs that need to be properly imaged, and they're quite the eye-candy. I'll post them as a set when I get this one.

 

One that back in 1960-1970 if your mint set had carbon spot you dipped them 50/50 Vinegar & distilled water, for about 15mins.then dip them again in 100% distilled water to wash off the 50/50 mix. then let them tamped them dry with cotton rag.
But only your silver+Nickle coins.it will also work on clad coin but dip it ONLY 2mins
I know that after about ten year there will be some toning.


***All Copper,Bronze coin will be damaged by do this So DO NOT do that!!!****

 

Thank you for your expert knowledge on this! I could see that the relief levels had been 'recontoured' a bit and that they would weigh differently, but not necessarily that the overall look was flattened. In fact, I may actually appreciate the later designs more. Just now I like them both equally, although I think the re-engraving looks sharper and more detailed. To be sure, though, I'd need similarly MS examples of both to compare.

My theory is that the re-engraving was done intelligently (on the 50c anyway) so that the revised design wasn't less attractive overall than its predecessor. I compare with e.g. the 1921-22 Peace Dollar and the St. Gaudens $20. Those suffered dramatically (as I'm sure you know) when the design relief was attenuated for practical reasons. Thanks again.

 

Stunning photography in this thread. I'm going to ramp up my own game at some point thanks to the inspiration here! The Kennedy is imho the most beautiful American regular-issue coin since Lady Liberty left. Although JFK was sadly cut down in his prime, at least he left an attractive visage behind for us collectors!

 

The ironic thing is that when the first Kennedy Half Dollars were minted in 1964, Jackie Kennedy objected to the hair detail on the proof issues, so the engravers smoothed out his coiffure somewhat. Nevertheless, a small percentage of 64 proofs with the "accented hair" device were issued, and they're now much sought after by collectors. This is what the variety looks like.



Now if Jackie objected to that, she must be rolling over in her grave at the current version, and I think the earlier busts look more natural myself.

 

Awesome shot and thanks for educating me wrt the 'accented hair' variety. Lately I'm fascinated with the (minor) varieties in this type. The re-engraving that we've been discussing is still of interest, and I'm unable to determine which year it occurred--the 1993 I'm examining just now seems to have characteristics of the original and facelifted varieties both. I'm wondering if the modification was done in stages.

About the aesthetic effect--I like both varieties on the obverse but the reverse is hands-down superior on the original. The revision is just too flat, and that's a shame. Of course the vagaries of strike can have almost as much (or more?) effect, and one must be sure to be comparing similar strikes. Another irony, when you think about it, is that the 50c has seen so little circulation in our lifetimes that wear patterns are almost irrelevant. The Kennedy Half didn't need redesigning from that practical standpoint in the first place.