Trivia: Kennedy halves-from silver to glass?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Clinker, Nov 5, 2010.

  1. Clinker

    Clinker Coin Collector

    The Year was 1964. The U.S.Government already made a decision to reduce or eliminate silver from our coinage beginning in 1965. Upon obtaining this information, AT&T contracted with Corning Glass Company to create a Kennedy Half Dollar to replace the ever-more-expensive silver. Corning Glass Company presented the idea to their scientific department. After a few weeks of experimentation (trial and error) a ultra-low cost pattern Kennedy Half Dollar-size coin was produced made entirely of clear photochromic glass.

    (Photo courtesy of Bowers and Merena archived on uspatterns.com (click photo for enlargement):

    Photochromic Glass Kennedy Half Dollar Pattern

    Of course it wasn't deemed viable and thus we have silver clad metal Half Dollars in our collections dated 1965 through 1970.

    And now you know...

    Clinker
     
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  3. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    interesting, do you knopw how much it sold for?
     
  4. chrisild

    chrisild Coin Collector

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