So, I don't know much about coins, so I'm sure my terminology is off, but have a very interesting one that I've been carrying around with me for awhile. I hate to say it, but pretty sure all the damage caused to this was done by me, so I hope it's just neat and not that valuable. The only thing I know is it says 1974 and it looks like another coin was pressed into it, making the date and part of the face much more flat. If you run your finger across it it gets caught on the ridge so its pretty deep. Thanks!!!
Because the damage is incluse, it occurred post mint, most likely by another half. Sometimes people place two coins together in a vise and apply enough pressure to flatten the coin somewhat in the area of contact. If enough pressure is applied, a slight image transfer is possible. I keep all my damaged coins, as they make good conversation pieces. Welcome to CT!
If it was caused by someone putting two coins into a vise, then why isn't the rim flattened at the two points of intersection and why isn't there any design transfer impressed into it? Chris
I think the rim is flattened down Chris, but hard to tell from that pic. It appears to transition downward at the intersection below the "Y". Of course, the impression could have been made by anything, though the radius is the same as a half. The depth of the impression isn't much, maybe .010" to .015", so I'm not sure there was enough pressure to transfer any image (if indeed it was another coin).
If the reverse face is normal, then the obverse may have been struck through a detached clad layer. I'm hedging my bets on the identity of the intrusive disc, because the raised design is so weak in the struck-through area. Usually more of the design shows up when a coin is struck through a clad layer. If it's not a clad layer, then it's a much more interesting, and much more mysterious error.
I don't think so. Keep in mind that the rim is the highest point on both coins at those points of contact, so the impression would cause a "groove" across the rim. ("Flattened" was a bad choice of words on my part.) There is no similar damage across the rim next to the "L" of LIBERTY or the "T" of IGWT. I'd almost be willing to bet that if you put two (junk) halves into a vise to reproduce that arc across the coin there would be more damage than that. Chris
Good point about the clad layer, Mike. I've never seen a strikethrough caused by a separated clad layer. Have you? I'd also like to see what the reverse looks like. Chris
I've seen uncounted numbers of clad coins (including half dollars) struck through detached clad layers. The result is a mushy design that tends to be more complete than what we see in the coin under discussion. That's why I've hedged my bets on the identity of the thin disc that generated the strike-through.
What is interesting to me is how the rest of the coin looks pretty worn. That by itself is rare. Given that, and the nature of this damage, I do not see how it could be a mint error. If it were, in this day and age it would have been pulled from circulation long before. SO in my mind either what caused this also caused a very weak strike to the rest of the coin, or its PMD. That sound about right? I am not an error expert so trying to just follow along. Chris
No the rim is not flat and the back is completely normal. PS that part wasn't dirty or worn when I got it, it was very new and shiny looking. I got it from a casino. I thought it was pretty neat, so I kept it but unfortunately I threw it in a car cup-holder and it was slightly damaged by moisture I think.
I am now confident that this is a genuine error of the type I've already descibed. Congratulations on your find.
Thank you everyone for the information!!! I appreciate your knowledge, and was very curious as to what this was. Thanks!!!
Mike, could that possibly be caused by a major clip on a previous coin, the clad peeling away and somehow being placed on this coin as it was struck? the curve has me wondering.. I have seen clad missing on portions of coins but this looks like a major clip was somehow involved in this process.. Just thinking outloud, or in this case typing as I think.
I have trouble visualizing your scenario, Jim. If the coin had been struck through a clad layer derived from a half dollar with a curved clip, then the struck-through area would be crescentic in shape, not oval.
I agree with Mike on this one. The coin has been struck thru a piece of the clad layer from another half dollar . When the clad layer seperates from a coin the clad layer is about identical to a piece of aluminum foil . Maybe a tiny bit thicker but not by much. a while back a Ebay seller had a big collection of these on Ebay for sale that were authenticated by PCGS and ANACS. I think they sold for somewhere around 200.00 each but I don't remember for sure. Maybe someone else out there saw the coins I'm talking about and knows what they sold for..
Struck through a detached clad layer was the first thing I thought of when I saw the coin. Glad to know Mike agrees, I got it right.
