40 % halves - how can you tell?

Quick question: How do I tell if a JFK half (1971-1976) is a 40 percent silver type? (a former proof in circulation sometimes happens).

I did a search for an answer, but did not turn up an answer - I am sure it is on here someplace.

I do not have a scale to check weights.

 

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1976 is the only year of 1971-1976 that has 40% silver halves. If silver, they will not have the distinctive copper edge of business strikes.

 

The Red Book seemed to indicate that silver might be possible. Also, www.coinflation indicated that such is possible.

The reason I am asking is because, I picked up 2 rolls at the bank counter. Some of them look different to me.

 

A very few 1971-D halves were struck in silver clad composition by error.

 

Place a piece of tissue paper over your half dollars. The cupro-nickel ones will look gray. If there are any silver ones, they will appear white.

 

Instead of the copper line , you will see a more silver grey color when looking at the edges .

 

If a coin was struck as a Proof it is always a Proof, even if it circulated (in which case it will become an impaired Proof).

 

Sound. They sound different. The edges also look different than regular clad pieces of crap.

 

All business and proof coinage struck during 1971 thru 1974 are composed of COPPER-NICKEL CLAD (Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel, Center - 100% Copper)

In 1975/1976 (all coins struck in these years are the 1776-1976 dated Bi-centennial coinage)

40% silver Circulation strikes: estimated 5,000,000
40% silver Proofs: estimated 4,000,000

There was also 234 million clad (non-silver) Philadelphia and 287 million clad Denver and 7 million clad Frisco halves minted in 1976

So, during the time frame you mentioned, the only halves you need to worry about are the San Fransisco minted (S mint mark) for the Bi-centennial coinage from 1976

BTW: The tissue paper (Kleenex layer) really does work!

 

Does this tissue test work with all silver coins?

 

I can't get the tissue test to work. However, to me, sound is the best test. Flip a known clad in the air and flip a known 40% silver half in the air (let it land on a pillow or something soft). There is a distinct sound that silver makes. Then, flip your suspect coin. Does it "ring true?" I believe, if I'm not mistaken, that that is the origin of that phrase.

Bob

 

Bobbeth you're probably right about ring true because I know for a fact that back in the day cash registers had marble on them and clerks would tap coins on it to see if they ring correctly.

 

What would one be worth today ? I never heard of this error before. I'm thinking $1,000 easily if there are like 10 known. It would be almost like a 1943 copper cent in rarity, but not popularity.

 

That's probably back when the Cartwrights were on the Ponderosa....

 

Yes, thanks for correcting that one.

 

So that would be when, 1962?
LOL.

 

"So, during the time frame you mentioned, the only halves you need to worry about are the San Fransisco minted (S mint mark) for the Bi-centennial coinage from 1976"

Only the "S" MM are part silver?

 

And on a tangent, how do you know if a coin is a proof, besides ones with an S mintmark?

 

Proof: Mirrored fields with frosty devices. You'll know one when you see one. Even if it's "impaired".

 

They are mentioned in the Red Book. There are also some 1977 D 40% silver. Now if you are wondering how silver planchets got to Denver at this late date, it was probably due to San Franciso sending leftover trash to Denver for their use. Among other cases, that is how Denver got the large quantity of quarter blanks on dime stock in 1970.