2014 Kennedy Commemorative

In August the U.S. Mint will be offering 50th anniversary Kennedy half dollars.

Given the recent debacles at the Mint, it will be interesting to see whether there are many orders and how well the mint handles them.

There will be three sets available: a four coin .900 set (one from each mint), a two coin clad set Philadelphia and Denver, and a 3/4 ounce .999 gold version.

I had decided to swear off buying anything from the Mint, but I will have to make an exception for this. I will buy the four coin set as I think that will be the most important to collectors. I'll ignore the clad and the gold.

Unfortunately, the four coin set apparently will be offered in four different finishes, a ploy to increase sales. I don't like reverse proofs, but that will be one of the coins, so if I want the others, that comes with them.

That leaves the issue of orders.

I've said this before: I think first day orders should be limited to one order per address.  Perhaps that should run for two or three days and then (if not sold out) raised to say four per address, but  not let anyone who ordered singles order again quite yet.   If not sold out after another week, open the gates to unlimited and no restrictions from previous orders,

If you are a collector, you would have a better chance of getting at least one of the issue. If you want to take a chance to get more, hold off and wait.

Dealers would still hire people to buy these coins, but they'd have to decide whether to get fewer right away or take a chance on being able to order later.  Whatever their decision, collectors would have a better chance of getting their coins.

Note: All my coins are in a safe deposit box. I keep nothing in my home.

Contests and giveaways: http://coins.aplawrence.com/2014/05/contests-and-giveaways.html

1964 Kennedy Half Dollar Reverses

There are two obverse varieties of Proof half dollars in 1964. The first is called the "Accented Hair" and it looks like this.

It's called Accented Hair because of the hair detail as shown in this close up.

Compare that to the second style:

Very obviously different.

Now, when they changed the obverse, they also changed the reverse. The Accented variety has this reverse.  Note the position of the top star which is very close to E Pluribus Unum
and the shape of the G in the initials.

The redesigned proof usually has this reverse. The top star is farther away and the G is more flared in the serif.

That's the typical reverse, but there are non-accented hair proofs with the accented hair reverse.

The question is, how many? Opinions differ - some say there are many of these, others insist that they are more rare.  See http://www.cointalk.com/threads/accented-hair-reverse-with-normal-obverse-listed-as-variety-by-anacs.246860/ for various opinions.

Note:  All my coins are in a safe deposit box.  I keep nothing in my home. 

Contests and giveaways: http://coins.aplawrence.com/2014/05/contests-and-giveaways.html

50th Anniversary Kennedy

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy half dollar and their have been intimations that some special Mint issue might mark that occasion.

Others have carped that honoring 50 years of a coin is a bit odd - fifty years after his death might have been a more appropriate time.

I was in a High School study hall when the news of that terrible day came.  We were all stunned and I have never forgotten that or the days that followed.  The rumors of a special coin reminded me that I do not have many Kennedy Halves, so I picked up a few on Ebay.

Note:  Everything is in a safe deposit box.  I keep nothing in my home. 

These are not expensive items.  Well, they can be: the highest price I found on Ebay was just under $25,000 but you can buy them in nice condition for a few dollars more than the price of their silver content alone (that's about $7.00 as I write this) and even Proof examples can be found under $20.00.

There were almost 300 million of these minted and almost 4 million in Proof, so they definitely are not rare.  Most were saved, few were spent, so these are definitely not "investment" coins.

Still, a 50 year special issue might renew interest in the series, so picking up some of the higher grade could pay off.   

Or not..

Note:  Everything is in a safe deposit box.  I keep nothing in my home. 

This weeks Coinweek Giveaway:  http://www.coinweek.com/~cd5342a1aa5cb1c

Also multiple contests going on at http://www.moderncoinmart.com/forum/forums/contests/