I was going through a box of Half dollars at work (typical day at the bank), and found some Bicentennial Proofs. There were 3 in a row and then I found this. It is unlike any Bicentennial that I've ever seen. It appears to be a proof as it has the same mirror finish as the three that I found before it, but there is no mintmark. Kennedy's hairlines are not as well defined as they should be and the designers initails SGH are terribly blurred. Is this some type of mint error, or is this the most beautiful bussiness strike coin that I've ever seen?? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Although it is hard to really tell what is up with the coin from the pictures, I would guess that the coin has been polished! The blurred Designer's initials and also what appears to be some extra thickness on the lettering, could indicate that it is a "Doubled Die" Error coin. If the coin is a "Doubled Die" Kennedy Half but has been polished, then it will have very little value to most Error Coin Collectors. I would really have to have the coin in hand to really give a good and honest assessment! Good luck...Frank
I cannot see any evidence of whizzing, but I don't know how to tell for sure if a coin has been dipped. Can anyone give me any helpful hints???
By the way, normally if I found a coin that looks like this I would automatically say cleaned. It is the fact that three proofs came out of the same roll that threw me for a loop.
They did make 6 proof coins at the Philly mint without a mint mark but it's unlikely this is one of them. Thousands of P and D mint coins have been polished to be used in the type sets that were made for wall display. I've busted up a lot of these and just spend the coins like this. It doesn't appear to have the nice square rims that a proof should have.
