Help me with a weird looking Half

It may be a magician's coin.

Is the reverse 180 degrees off from the obverse?

Try dropping it on a hard surface like a table. If it makes a dull thud instead of a ringing sound then it may be two hollow halves stuck together.

 

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It is not like any magicians coin that I have seen. It is in every way like any other half dollar except being smaller in circumference, weighs less, and is a little thicker. I guess I need to send if in to a TPG this week.

 

One question you didn't answer, does the reeding go all the way around the coin, or is it only on one side of the coin? If it is just on one side then a wrong planchet is a definite possibility. If it goes all the way around I think I would like the scale checked.

 

The reeding does go all the way around the coin. I ordered a scale so I am waiting on it to come in the mail this week and I will re-weigh it to make sure it was right. The inside of the coin looks completely differant than a regular half of that year. It looks like the planchet is made of differant material.

 

Ok,
I just got my scale in and made sure it was calibrated. The half weighs in at 10.31 grams. That still is about a gram off what it should be if I am right. Once again, this is a differant brand new scale that is right on calibration.

 

OK, I'm stumped. The light weight does seem to require it to be an off planchet. However the reeding all the way around, but yet with a smaller diameter would require the "planchet" it have already been reeded when it was struck. That would seem to require that the half dollar be struck on a previously struck coin or token from some other country.

 

Now my problem is that I need someone to submit this coin for me since there is a 5 coin minimum to submit to NGC and I only have this coin. What do I do about that. I dont have a local shop to send it for me.

 

You mean Charleston, South Carolina doesnt have a coin shop that submits to NGC? That would seem as odd as the coin itself.

 

No, there is no B and M shop in Charleston at all. I few of the guys at the coin club are looking into opening one but there isnt at this point. Unfortunately

 

That is a very cool coin. Where did you get it?

 

I got it from a bank teller while I was asking for halves. In fact, I need to go see her again today because my box of halves are in :smile

 

Nice pick up! Make sure you get that on the Roll-searchers thread once you find out what it is!

 

I will as soon as I figure out what it is. lol

 

My contention is still PMD (Post Mint Damage) If you look closely at the raised rim (stacking rim) you can see where the reeding is actually pressed into the top of the rim, this is moved metal.

How this happened is unknown, there are mechanical rollers that are used in industry that can move metal with ease.

I don't understand the weight issue, that is perplexing. It would seem that a smaller diameter but yet thicker than normal planchet would be the same weight.

 

Is this similar?

 

If you can't find a shop I am an NGC certified dealer and could handle sending it in for you. PM if you need help.

 

Nope, not even close. Here is a better shot of the ridges. They are this way all the way around.

 

I just had a thought...

Is it possibile that this coin was struck on quarter stock?