1964 Kennedy Accented Hair

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by commidaddy, Apr 16, 2009.

  1. commidaddy

    commidaddy Senior Member

    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
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. snaz

    snaz Registry fever

    Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to explain this! Bookmarked!
     
  4. commidaddy

    commidaddy Senior Member

    Thanks for reading! and thanks for the nomination:)
     
  5. jgrinz

    jgrinz Senior Member

    Should have made it more complete ...

    Accent is on the left and regular on the right ...
     

    Attached Files:

  6. commidaddy

    commidaddy Senior Member

    Sorry about that, thanks for the help
     
  7. jgrinz

    jgrinz Senior Member

    Not a problem
     
  8. mralexanderb

    mralexanderb Coin Collector

    A very timely thread as I just got one last Monday, as a gift.

    Bruce
     
  9. Vess1

    Vess1 CT SP VIP Supporter

    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.
     
  10. TheNoost

    TheNoost huldufolk

    How do you do that? Just add to fav. or something different
     
  11. jaceravone

    jaceravone Member

    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?
     
  12. the_man12

    the_man12 Amateur Photographer

    awesome post. mine is regular
     
  13. commidaddy

    commidaddy Senior Member

    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
     
  14. coinbuff

    coinbuff Senior Member

    Jarrid,

    Thanks for a very informative post! :thumb:
     
  15. rzage

    rzage What Goes Around Comes Around .

    Jarrid , good informative thread , thanks .
    rzage
     
  16. FlyingEagleCent

    FlyingEagleCent New Member

    wow, i did not know that. thanks for telling me.:)
     
  17. CamaroDMD

    CamaroDMD [Insert Clever Title] Supporter

    Excellent post. Thanks for the information. :)
     
  18. kidkayt

    kidkayt Senior Member

    I have a 64 MS67CAM which is a very nice coin. I'm planning on getting a short set of the '64 varieties.
     
  19. jorgen

    jorgen New Member

    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?
     
  20. 19Lyds

    19Lyds Member of the United States of Confusion

    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.

    Kennedy 1964  21518122 Accented Hair PCGS PR67CAM Slab Obv-30.jpg

    There are also several really cool DDO Accented Hair Kennedy's.



    Kennedy 1964 Acc Hair DDO-003 13307854 PCGS PR66CAM Slab Obv-30.jpg Kennedy 1964 AH DDO FS-103 11902845 PCGS PR64 Slab Obv-30.jpg

    I negrlected to take close ups on these two. (My Bad!)
     
  21. robec

    robec Junior Member

    This might be the case if your coin is a business strike. The Accented Hair variety is a proof only variety.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page