Just looking for input on validating this candidate. It's a 1967 Kennedy Half that I pulled out of circulation. At first, I was thinking that the area I labeled as one, was the result of someone holding the coin with needlenose pliers. But, as I looked closer at the area I marked two, I couldn't see any evidence of the coin having been cut (grind marks, sheered edges). Then I started googling. I read about the "Blakesley effect" which predicts that the rim opposite the clip would not be raised during the rimming step. While the rim would partially form during the strike, it would still be weaker than the rest of the rim around the coin. Also, while the details around the clip are not as weak as I expected, I can see some weakness in them right at the edge of the clip. Just look for some second opinions on this coin. If anyone needs me to rescan an area for a closer look, just let me know.
Could you give more angles of the coin the edge please would help alot, there;s no why to tell if it's authentic by those pics. I don;t think it is I could see the ragged edges on the clip near the fields on the coin Jazzcoins Joe
Here are closeup scans. Sorry I don't have a good camera for these types of pictures. In person, I really don't see a ragged or built up edge. I do see the rim taper off towards the actual edge. The letters really don't taper as much. It seems to match what I've seen on Ken Potter's page and other closeup's that I could find using Google. Again, I'm posting here because I want to find out if I'm just wishing too hard.
This is definitely real. It shows all the signs, like design weakness near the clip and Blakesley Effect directly across from the clip. Great Find!
Yes that looks authentic to me and looks like a straight edge clip about 5 percent clip not much of a premium about 3 buks but a nice find Jazzcoins Joe
I think it may be worth a little more, like 5 or 6, because it is 40% silver, but it is on the minor error side...
Sorry guys, the coin is bogus.... The word UNITED does not flow off the edge the way it should and what you guys are calling the "Blakesley effect" is too pronounced. I lightened the pictures and what this coin shows is that the "Blakesley effec" was where someone tightly gripped the edge of the coin with a pair of grips or pliers and ground down the opposite portion of the coin to appear like a clip. It doesn't look right at all. Thanks, Bill
I agree.. the coin is a fake. I think the fake Blakesley effect might have been cause by whatever they used to hold the coin while they were hacking at it, I think I see teeth marks from a vice or a pair of pliers..
I dont agree at all. Look at the "TE" of "UNITED". They are very poorly raised. the "T" looks like part of a stretched H. The rim near the clip on the reverse flows into the void as well. If it was ground down, the rim would be unchanged all the way to the edge and be sheered straight off. About the way the clip looks, its a part of the blank that's missing metal. When the dies struck the planchet, the metal near the clip didn't flow along the surface of the die to smooth it out. So on the edge of the clip your seeing some of the original condition of the planchet.
On balance, I'd say the evidence indicates a genuine clip. The first photo shows clear metal flow in "ITE" of UNITED. The Blakesley Effect at the opposite pole shows a gradual weakening of the design rim, which is what you would expect. The controversy seems to be related to tricks of the light. For example, the second photo shows a normal looking curved clip on the obverse, while the fourth photo makes it look as if the clip was snipped out with curved pincers. The first photo shows clear metal flow in ITE while the fifth photo hardly shows it at all. And yes, the Blakesley effect does appear pinched in some of the photos. Sometimes photos can be tricky, and in this case it leaves some room for doubt.
Hi Mike, The things you pointed out, are of course accurate. I sometimes have a little difficulty when I have to adjust pictures. That's why I leaned toward the negative. A question I have goes to the rim and edge at the D of UNITED. On a genuine clip, would the Edge appear to be extended a little at that point. I might think that the collar would have pressed that portion of the edge inward during the strike. Thankya Sir! Bill
I don't quite understand, Bill. Why would the edge extend out at all? The collar doesn't change and it defines the curvature of the coin's edge. It should show the same curvature as a normal coin.
Hi Mike, Maybe I explained it poorly I was trying to point out that as you say, the collar should confine the edge of the coin to its normal curvature and that if you look at some of the pictures earlier on in the thread (the first post) of the full reverse of the coin, It almost looks like the rim and edge extend outward beyond the normal curvature particularly at the D of UNITED. I think that is more clearly explained. It still though, as you suggest could easily be a product of the picture not being ideal. Thanks, Bill
If any of the rim or edge DOES project beyond the normal limits of the edge, then it would be an altered coin. However, I see no convincing evidence of this in the photos.
I would also be interested in hearing where the marks came from on the reverse in the circled "1"? The couple of little ticks?? counting machine or something? I haven't ever seen the little ticks before.
