Accented Hair half - date recognized as variety

I can find discussions on the internet about rising prices for the Accented Hair Kennedy, but I cannot see that it was widely recognized until more recently.

The 1990 Red Book does not discuss it, it is listed in the 2000 edition. I cannot find that PCGS or NGC always recognized it (only that they do now). One would assume that it was known as a variety. Rick Tomaska argued in is 1991 Cameo book that little attention was paid to the variety. He may have actually lobbied the major grading services to formally recognize it. I don't have Tomaska's first edition of the Franklin/Kennedy book and the second edition gives no additional clues.

Do any of you remember if they were always identified and got little attention until sometime between 1990 and 2000? Or did they come on to the scene suddenly based on some outside force?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

You have my curiosity peaked. I will be following this discussion.

 

I only remember a little. PCGS and NGC would slab these in about 2000. A lot of folks were searching for them about that time and the price for DCAMs went crazy.
I had a friend (Russ) over on CU that was like the king of cherrypicking these on ebay. He must have had over 200 grades. At some point he started teaching folks how to spot the proof sets that had them on ebay.

For some reason, many of them that were sent in for grading were developing milk spots. Not sure if that's still the proper term today. At that time the services wanted proofs in little poly bags and put in flips when you sent them in. Some thought the poly bag was part of the problem. Some thought the problem was worse if mailed in hot weather. Russ started having better luck if he gave the coin a quick weak dip before sending them in for grading. Not sure how that worked out, long term.

Those were fun times. I found a few myself but never a DCAM. I quit trying and just bought one.

 

Rick Tomaska says he discovered this variety in the early 1980s, and began studying them for several years before meeting with PCGS and finally getting them to certify them as a major variety. They were first discussed in his first book: Brilliant and Cameo Proof Coins from 1950 to 1970 ERA. I believe the book was published in 1991 and word gradually got out about the variety. This was the first book which discussed on a date by date analysis of brilliant proof and cameo proof coins up to this time. Before then, little or no information was gathered on cameo proof coins. About this time, Rick also met with PCGS about attribution of cameo proof coins, and soon after the TPGs began to certify them.

 

Wow, these were not attributed by the major TPG's until the late '90's into 2000? I had no idea, I figured these had been known since at least the '70's. I'm guessing it's still possible to cherrypick these in older holders?

 

Yes, but it is unlikely. Especially if it looks CAM or DCAM.

 

I picked one up about 5 yrs. back...it was brilliant 66 when graded. You also get the pointed 9 dime in these sets! My pointed 9 was a nice cameo, which is a rare find...I placed it in a Whitman holder where it remains today. This coin is probably worth more than the PR66 Accented Hair coin.

 

This one is in the soap box collection.

 

Not an accented hair variety.

 

The I in LIBERTY is not truncated. Not an AH variety.

 

Could this possibly be the transitional variety then? Im just testing out my memory. Which is usually terrible. I see a straight G and those missing line stars

 

Possibly. This is from an Accented Hair, but with a slight lip on the G. Or maybe it is just an artifact of lighting.

 

Yes, if it has the straight G. I can't tell from the pic. The A H variety will always have the T-1 Trans. rev. The regular Proof issue may have either rev.,type 1 or type 2.

 

The T1 reverse was used for non-AH proof Kennedy Half Dollars as well as business strike Kennedy Half Dollars. My quickest pick up for the T1 reverse is the broken ray through the two stars between the eagle's wing and neck. The image above from @Pickin and Grinin clearly shows the broken ray. A T2 will have a complete ray.

 

Disagree...the Type 1 rev. was used on ALL Accented Proof Kennedys as well as some Regular Proof Kennedys, and some 1964 Business Strikes. The type 2 Rev. was used on only some Reg. Strike Kennedy Proofs, and most Business Strike 64s.

 

That's basically what I was trying to say. There are no AH Kennedy's with T2 reverses. The T1 and T2 reverse can be found on both non-AH Proof and Business Strike Kennedy's. The number available will depend on if it's Proof or Business Strike. Sorry for any confusion I may have brought.

 

I know U know...This is one of the most difficult subjects to explain...I have the complete set of all types of both PF and Bus. Strike Kennedys with all rev. possibilities, including cameo proof strikes...a lot of issues for the 1964 Kennedys! These are one of my most favorite groups in my collection. It's ironic that I owned all of these varieties for years and didn't even know I had them until about 2014. I was well versed in the accented hair variety, but learned about the type 1 and 2 reverses on this blog...That's why I'm still here...to learn.

 

I will have to get a better photo of the I. The left side bottom side is missing on the coin.

 

That's the Accented Hair. Much better photo...It was graded before they were known...Nice Item!

 

I had a slight buzz and missed the "I" when photo'ing.
I do agree when looking at the first photo. I even questioned it myself this morning.