Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Caleb, post: 2520627, member: 32795&quot;]The simple answer, sometimes you can’t.&nbsp; But don’t feel bad because sometimes PCGS and NGC can’t either.</p><p><br /></p><p>Example one: A collector that participates on these boards, “He who shall not be named” (unless he wants to be) picked up a 1966 PCGS SP66 Kennedy half dollar for a reasonable amount discovered that it happened to be a DDO-034 once James Wiles examined the coin (which happens to being a business strike variety), sent the coin back to PCGS along with the paperwork from James Wiles and now the coin sets in a PCGS MS66 holder.</p><p><br /></p><p>Example two:&nbsp; I have a NGC slab 1966 MS67 FS – 13.8 Kennedy half dollar (supposedly the DDO-005 business strike variety) but in reality the coin is the SMS DDO-013 or new number FS-103.</p><p><br /></p><p>Example three:&nbsp; We sent in two 1965 Kennedy half dollars still in US Mint cellophane to PCGS for grading, both coins had major rotation of the dies which can be found in the 1965 Special Mint Sets.&nbsp; PCGS disagreed with us that these were SMS issued coins and slabbed them as a MS65 and MS66.&nbsp; Please bear in mind that the US Mint only issued SMS sets in 1965 so the fact that the coins were still in the cellophane should have been a “light bulb” moment for PCGS that they were indeed SMS coins and should have been slabbed as such.</p><p><br /></p><p>I am sure other collectors have many different stories to tell also but remember that MS coins usually command higher prices than their SMS counterparts so if in doubt error on the side of caution and treat them as SMS (less chance of getting hurt).</p><p><br /></p><p>A few things that I look at on 1965 – 1967 Kennedy half dollars:</p><ol> <li>If it is a CAM or DCAM then that is a no brainer.</li> <li>Are the fields / device smooth mirrors or just good luster?</li> <li>How are the rims?</li> <li>On the reverse, how is the area where the shield meeting the tail feathers? Is it mushy?&nbsp; If mushy, lean towards business strikes.</li> <li>On the reverse, how is the banner with E PLURIBUS UNUM, again if mushy lean towards business strikes.</li> </ol><p>Just my 4 bits on the subject,</p><p>Caleb[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in