I’m looking for some opinions in regards to the missing FG initials on the back of the Kennedy half dollars. Mainly, what constitutes the missing FG. I’ve come across many 50 cent pieces with faint FGs. Some are so faint you need a loop to see a faint outline. I do not consider these as missing FGs, even if one letter is missing. However, I have a very few (72D and 74D) with nothing but a small lump where the FG should be. You will need a 10X loop to see the small lump. Would this constitute a missing FG? I cannot produce any pictures that will show the lump because it is so faint and small.
The missing FG is suppossed to be the result of over polished dies not some kind of a grease strike through which would also weaken the striken over a broader area. As fas as how far down or how faint the intials are, that's an issue I'd like to see discussed. My guess is that as this is becoming a more recognized variety it will become somewhat "year subjective" akin to the way some Full Step nickel collectors would tolerate bag marks depending of how prevalant Full steps are for a given year.
