Weighs 11.5 grams. Correct diameter. Has tumbling marks an unstruck proof has. Is a bit mirrored-looking. Just not positive, yet the surface looks much different than on non-proof planchets. 40% silver half planchets are incredible rare, and far more rare than 90% silver ones. I am not aware of any foreign planchets that are 11.5 grams with the correct diameter. What do y'all think? It looks very similar to this proof 40% silver half I found at Heritage Auctions. Also just picked up this certified non-proof 40% silver half planchet.
Since they are prepared differently, upon close inspection you can tell by the surfaces, and sometimes also by the rim. Notice the differnence between the business strike example below, and the proof example below it.
What diagnostics led to you leaning that way? I was wondering why it wouldn't be more toned, and possibly the rim?
The rim just doesn't look like the other one's pictured ..... Not saying it's NOT, just saying I'm not certain, from the photos only.
Update... Ok, so I picked up that piece at Jack Hunt Gold & Silver in Kenmore NY (the largest wholesale buyer of precious metals in Western NY State), who scanned it on their Fischerscope X-Ray XAN 250 machine after I dropped it off... They scanned it and said it measured at 89% silver. Then they scanned a 1969-D struck Kennedy half, which measured 88% silver. So, how can that be if these are 40% silver? Is their machine broke? Apparently, somehow because of the clad layering, and with both layers plus the core containing silver, the machine reads it differently. That's where I got lost. But their expert assured me it is a 40% silver planchet. However, I trust Fred a bit more who said it is possible it might not be. However, regardless the planchet definitely is silver. It scannned the same percentage as a known 40% half example (the 1969-D Kennedy). The weight is 11.5 on the nose like 40% halves. The diameter is within hundreths of a millimeter. And here is a side-by-side comparison of my planchet, and a proof one that sold on Heritage. Mine Heritage @Fred Weinberg Should I send this to PCGS or NGC? I only ask because of the work NGC did with the San Francisco Hoard you had a while ago. Thanks, my friend. ~Joe C.
XRF only penetrates slightly below the surface, it doesn't give you the comp of the entire coin. The outer layers on the 40% silver clad are 80% silver and 20% copper, so a higher Ag level isn't a surprise. Why 88%-89%, I don't know.
