Accented Hair???

Is this an Accented Hair variety?

I believe it is because the engraver initials and stars on reverse match. I'm having a hard time identifying the hair and serif markers though.

 

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No sir, 'tis not. The best diagnostic is a clipped off serif of the "I" in LIBERTY. On the accented hair, the I clearly has only 3 serifs.

 

Thanks for the reply Kurt. So how does it work... do all 4 markers have to be present for the Accented Hair? The reverse markers match (star with broken ray and FG initials, where the G doesn't have serif). I know you are referring to the serif in the I.

Thanks again.

 

I suppose they might not have switched out both dies simultaneously.

 

Don't I remember some discussion here a few years ago about that very topic (a "transitional variety" of the half with the new obverse and the old reverse)?

 

Yes, you do.

The weird thing is that the Reverse Die was not only used for the original proof but was also used for Circulation Strikes.

As a general rule, folks should not even consider the supposed Reverse Die markers for a Variety that exists on the Obverse such as the Accented Hair Kennedy.

For that matter, the Accented Hair itself is an eyeball variety which requires neither a loupe nor a sharp photograph. It really doesn't even need the other Obverse die marker since the variety stands out like a nickel in a stack of cents.

 

Agreed. But then, if you want to slice the bologna thin enough, aren't there more than one Accented Hair variety? Or did the reverse die just that fundamentally outlive the AH obverse?

 

By definition the Accented Hair variety should only be the one with accented hair, lol. As you can see however some of the markers from a popular variety are found in what are considered normal (non-variety) strikes which can lead to some confusion.

It's funny how some varieties get all the glory while some don't. Could be something as simple as an article in a major publication that gives it its fame. All else being equal, I guess the only true correlation is the more obvious the variety is to the eye then the more popular, in general.

 

I agree. I cant find a price guide listing for the LWC 1928-S small S / Large S variety.
Accented Hair, Lighting from the left.

 

I agree with you all, the Accented Hair obverse is what gives it it's name, as alurid posted here, and it is only found on proofs (from what I know).

The reverse with the broken rays and different FG is found on other proofs that do not have the obverse hair and funky "I". This is apparently also true on circulation strikes.

A proof with only the reverse was considered the "Transitional" variety. But since circulation versions of these are out there, I am not sure how unusual they are, or what you would call a circulation version of this.

 

I have always saved this link for these. It has some good pics and info!

https://www.bestcoin.com/1964-Proof-Accented-Hair-Kennedy-Half-Dollar.htm

 

For whatever reasons the Obverse Die was shelved.

 

“Hey, did anyone else see that the ‘I’ is lopped off on these?”

 

Absolutely! And I have seen different versions of it. Unless you are joking, in which case, no, I don't know what you are talking about.

 

Absolutely! And I have seen different versions of it.

If you are joking, what 'I'?

 

I’m NOT joking. The ‘I’ in LIBERTY has a lopped off serif on all Accented Hair Kennedy halves. It’s a better diagnostic than anything in the hair. My ironic quote in post #13 is one possible reason they swapped out the obverse die early, I suppose.

 

That was the best way to spot them on ebay in the early days. You could see it even with crappy images.

 

Showing or not showing the relevant hair elements can be lighting-dependent. The pic in post#9 is an example. It shows the coin as a whole poorly, but the AH lines perfectly.

 

Bottom left serif loped off.

 

Did you see the link I posted above?