Could someone help me with the grade on this Kennedy half. Will the white spots effect the grade and should I send it in for grading. Thanks, Sandy
The spots will most definitely effect the grading. I feel there isn't a reason to send a Kennedy in for grading. The cost of the grading will heavily outweigh the value of the coin. Unless it was an error coin.
In the case of THIS coin, I'd agree...not worth sending in to be graded, as gbroke said...the white spots will most definitely keep it from grading high enough to be worth the cost. I'd have to disagree strongly, however, with the statement that "...there isn't a reason to send a Kennedy in for grading." As examples: Some of the earlier proof issues (including 64) are quite tough to come by in cameo or deep cameo, and in higher grades can command a premium that easily justifies the cost of having them slabbed. A simple PR69 CAM prices out at $200+ on most guides (including PCGS's) and a DCAM can eclipse that in PR68. Some of the varieties can also be tough to come by in high grades, especially again proof cameo examples. High end CAM accented hair proofs, for example, can bring $500+, and MS65 and above 74-D DDOs can justify the cost of grading as well. Also, the mid-late 60's runs of SMS coins can be pricey in high grades, and some of the modern satin finish coins (even as recent as 2010 issues) can bring $1000+ at 69. Last but not least, the 98 matte proof coin...generally accepted as THE key coin of a Kennedy set, can bring $200+ sight unseen, and well into 4 figures if graded high by one of the top tier TPGs. To be sure, there aren't as many Kennedys that justify the expense, but to say none are worth it is, imo, inaccurate. There are, indeed, 5-10 coins in the series that, with the right combination of grade and features, can make it worth the time, effort, and money to have a TPG give them a look.
This coin was posted recently: White spots on a Kennedy half As stated there, something came in contact with this coin, and has damaged the surfaces of the coin. It would be a waste of time and money to have the coin graded by a TPG. The grade is: damaged.
Thank you for the correction and explanation. Live and learn... I think I need to revisit my Kennedy collection!
Nicely frosted....perhaps a candidate for some sort of acetone bathing ? Most 64's have no frost to them, unlike later proofs. With spots it isn't much more than junk, so I'd tend to risk cleaning this one.
Sandy, try rescanning the coin again, but next time place a sheet of black paper behind the coin. There is an awful lot of reflection and blown out details from the scanner lamp making it hard to see what these spots may really look like in hand. The bright light is also distorting the color of the image. A dark background should improve the image a bit. If you have any adaptive lighting controls with your scan software you should try to scan it under different settings until you find one that works better. Cleaning the coin, even if done properly, may remove any remaining surface contaminants, but may only expose damage done to the surface under the contamination. The removed matter will likely leave the coin equally unappealing and not worthy of being graded, that is, it remains damaged.
That coin was not scanned it was shot with no flash F9 with a Ottlite. Here is one with no flash, no light and the shades pulled down. It is so reflective that I am having hard time getting the exposure right. I have never seen a coin this reflective. See if this helps.
Better image to be sure, but doesn't change my original opinion. It DOES appear to likely be a proof 64. However, the proof '64 only brings enough premium to justify grading if it's either a flawless 70 (clearly the spots negate that) or a cameo or DCAM...and I'm seeing neither feature in either of these pics. The only other premium on a Proof 64 is to be found in the Accented Hair variety, which this coin is not.
Now that's a much, much better photo! Thank you. Still, this is a damaged proof coin, not worth sending for grading. Perhaps you should just place it in an Air Tite Holder (coin capsule) and be done with this one.
