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starwarsgeek171
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
651 Posts |
 Posted - 02/14/2008 : 09:56:00
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Someone recently told me that he had a 1964 JFK half dollar that had a mirror image on the reverse side. Has anyone ever heard of this? Is this possible?
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MaDeuce
Penny Pincher Member
USA
124 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2008 : 10:30:01
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Yes, it is possible, but it is not due to a mint error. If you look in the right places, these are not so hard to find. They are a novelty. A moderately skilled machinist takes two coins, machines off the 1/2 of each coin that is unwanted. The remaining halves are joined together. The result is a two headed or two tailed coin. Some of the people that do this are quite talented -- they will leave the edge of one coin completely intact and will machine the second coin with a slightly smaller diameter so that it fits right inside the recess of the other coin. Some of these can be pretty hard to detect.
I suppose that it is possible that there are a few around that are indeed mint errors, but I don't follow this enough to know for sure.
MaDeuce |
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fiatboy
Administrator
912 Posts |
 Posted - 02/14/2008 : 11:06:44
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| I've seen a few of these---used to sell 'em for 5 bucks a pop (way over-priced). MaDeuce summed it up well. They are NOT Mint errors, but they're a neat novelty coin, nonetheless. |
"Bart, it's not about how many stocks you have, it's about how much copper wire you can get out of the building." --- Homer Simpson |
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HoardCopperByTheTon
Administrator
USA
6807 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2008 : 11:44:30
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| They exist in pretty much all denominations. Some are extremely well done. Look just inside the rim with a good magnifying glass and you can usually find the seam. They are mainly used to win coin tosses. My favorites are the ones that have a dime on one side and a penny on the other.. they used to call these magician's coins. |
If your percentages are low.. just sort more. If your percentages are high.. just sort more.
Now selling Copper pennies. 1.6x plus shipping. Limited amounts available. |
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starwarsgeek171
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
651 Posts |
 Posted - 02/14/2008 : 13:07:21
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| Thanks, guys! I'll let him know. |
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Know Common Cents
Penny Pincher Member
195 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2008 : 20:48:01
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The 1964 Kennedy half would only be worth its intrinsic value for the silver. If it's been altered as described then a coin dealer may even be reluctant to throw it in the melt bucket. There are all sorts of altered coins on the market. These are the ones that are typically seen as inserts in the newspaper or other mailings such as credit card statements, etc.
If this person really believes that he has a national treasure then it should be sent to one of the legitimate grading services (PCGS or NGC) for them to authenticate. I hope that he has a major error coin, but would bet my weight in copper that this is only a "tribute" coin. |
Here in Wisconsin, we have some of the highest property and gasoline taxes in the US. We're squeezed so much, I have to make my daughter wear penny boxes for shoes. At least she has an endless supply. |
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starwarsgeek171
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
651 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2008 : 09:26:59
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| After further clarification, he's trying to say that the actual obverse is in reverse. I hope that makes sense. A mirror image of the obverse? |
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just carl
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
601 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2008 : 07:33:57
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Mirror image? This would mean that on one side Kennedy is facing left and on the other side he is facing right. Is that what your attempting to say? Still I doubt it is a Mint error. This even sounds like something done with a hammer or vice pounding one coin onto the other's reverse.
If in fact it is just the two headed type, they do not sell for $5. AT most magic shops or hobby stores the half dollar ones sell for about $15. The Cents, Nickels, Dimes and Quarter ones sell for less and proportionally per the size. They also come with a Cent on one side, Dime on the other. Quarter on one side, Nickel on the other. The Cent ones with Dime on the other side is neat. The Dime drops out so you can show people a complete Dime, then insert into the hollowed out Cent and presto, no more Dime. One side naturally. |
Carl |
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starwarsgeek171
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
651 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2008 : 08:27:08
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| I'm going to let him do the research, as I have yet to see this "mystery coin." He may be too embarrassed to show it to me after all of your comments. Thanks again for all of the replies! |
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Fact or Fiction?
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