Hey everyone... Just cherrypicked this sweet DDO-007 (from Flynn & Wexler's book, page 93) with all the matching die markers (most notably the two criss-crossing die scratches coming from the tip of JFK's nose on the obverse.) My question is which CONECA DDO does this correspond with? Closest I see from Variety Vista is DDO-018... Has what I'd consider medium doubling on IN GOD, light doubling on WE TRUST and the lowest tip of JFK's bust, medium doubling on LIBERTY and the hair on JFK's head. Numerous die scratches on the obverse and reverse (as well as the two criss-crossing die scratches I mentioned earlier, which are a direct match for the image in the book.) (NOTE: I've added the following images...just for fun? First full image taken using extra diffusion, second full image taken using LED flash ring.)
Your half dollar looks like the CONECA listed 64D DDO-004. If you check the CONECA listings you can see that most of the markers for the DDO-004 are on your half dollar (nice pictures by the way). I can also see a nice die scratch north-south in the field on the reverse ending at the top of the highest olive leaf, which is also on the one in my collection. http://www.varietyvista.com/Variety Master Listings/kennedy doubled dies 1964.htm#_1964-D Larry Nienaber
Ah, thank you Larry! I was thinking of you, but couldn't remember your CT user name. Another thing I am curious about - the CONECA listing in your link only mentions doubling on LIB of LIBERTY. If mine has visible doubling on all letters of LIBERTY, is it not the DDO-004? Okay, so I checked out the PCGS price guides (just for fun) and the FS-104 is priced WAY higher than all the other DDO for 64 D. $150 in MS60 (next highest is $33) and $300 in MS63 (next highest is $85.) Any knowledge of why the premium on this DDO?
There is a nice medium spread on the E and R of LIBERTY, but light on the TY, on the DDO-004 in my collection. Sometimes James Wiles doesn’t include all the doubling on every PUP in his descriptions for the listing. I don’t know very much about the PCGS price guide, can’t help with that...maybe Tim C or Caleb will see this post and comment, they follow PCGS. Larry Nienaber
Thanks for checking on that for me, Larry. I do appreciate it! I was excited about the coin just for the DDO...would just be icing on the cake if it had some extra value! Let's see if we can find out why it retails for more, @Tim C and @Caleb - you guys have any ideas?
I don’t know if I can answer your question, I not sure if anyone really can answer your question. When trying to decipher the PCGS Price Guide, I believe it is more of an “art” then “fact” and sometimes I scratch my head and wonder if the author(s) of the Price Guide ever heard of the term “non-fiction”. I just checked our records and for the 1964-D FS-104 (DDO-004) graded and attributed by PCGS in MS65 plastic, we have $135 tied up in that coin. Really, it all comes down to supply versus demand and how badly someone wants to buy one or how quickly someone wants or has to sell. I also notice in the PCGS Price Guide that the 1972 FS-101 (DDO-001) in PCGS MS63 has a price of $140. In MS63, it is a pop one coin with zero better and the coin has never been sold so how did PCGS determine that it is only valued at $140? I know of at least two collectors who would pony up a minimum of $500 to buy the coin if it became available. I could give several other examples of the Price Guide being ridiculous high or low just within the Kennedy series but I think the point has been made. It looks like you picked up a nice looking coin and as long as you are happy with the price paid, that is all that matters ….. forget what the PCGS Price Guide says. If you really want to get an idea of the current value then check Heritage Auctions, Great Collections or eBay for past sales (but bear in mind that the last person to win the auction will probably not be competing for the next example to become available).
Personally, I was very happy with the price I was going to pay ($7.50) before I saw the DDO...then I was extremely happy. Now I'm even happier than that. And I totally understand the conundrum of the "price guide," but sometimes people have insights and experience beyond what a website says a coin is worth. (Btw, thank you for your reply!) Just out of curiosity, what would everyone grade this particular coin if it were submitted? (Again, realizing that grading from photos is far from an exact science.) In hand it is definitely UNC...and most of the lines you see in the photos are heavy die polish lines.
Just a guess but I think at PCGS you have a chance of MS63 or MS64. Also on the PCGS Price Guide, realize that PCGS has only graded and attributed 18 coins in all grades for this variety.
And NGC says "population data not available at this time." Wonder if that means none have been graded...
Just wanted to note that I have added some more photos (in case someone wanted to Google this variety...maybe CT gets some more hits.) Enjoy!
If you picked up that coin for under $10 - You did real GOOD. As they say, “The beauty is in the details.” Now for the sad news….. You will never look at a Kennedy half dollar the same way again, now when ever you come across a Kennedy your loupe will come out just waiting with baited breath for the next DDO or DDR to find (the fun part of collecting). By the way, nice pictures of the close up details! Have fun with your collection.
I am not a fan for using LED lighting for showing details...here is a couple photos of my 64D DDO-004 using a halogen desk lamp for a light source. Larry Nienaber
Just an update on this coin: it's currently at NGC in the "scheduled for grading" status...and they have 'officially' confirmed that it is the FS-104. So that's a piece of good news.
@Caleb - Hey, sorry, I've been meaning to reply to your response but just...well...kind of forgot. Ha! My question wasn't so much "why does PCGS list the prices it does for this variety" but more along the lines of "why is this particular variety more expensive than the others." In any case, I'm guessing that NGC hasn't graded a single one (mine will be the first, maybe, which might be a selling point.) I haven't decided which of my submitted coins I'll be selling and which I'll be keeping (might depend on the grades, might depend on my confidence that my boss will keep me busy enough to pay bills, might depend on how much I really want to be driving a 1970-72 El Camino after this summer...)
