Kennedy Half Question

[Nydus Touch]

Long story short: what do I have here? I would also like to mention that this is not a zinc/copper coin: the edge is a solid color and the coin is extremely shiny. Is it a proof? What are the goofy seemingly extraneous dates? The date on the left is 1960 and I know Kennedy halves first started being minted in 1964. This all begs the question: what do I have here?

 

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[Eminem]

Long story short: what do I have here?
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=723783"/>

Dawg I says it once and I says it again, it's a commemorative that's fairly common

 

[50cent]

C
L
A
D 100% PERCENT BULLION GRADE. I'd hold onto it if'n I were you

 

[FloridaFinder]

Long story short: what do I have here? I would also like to mention that this is not a zinc/copper coin: the edge is a solid color and the coin is extremely shiny. Is it a proof? What are the goofy seemingly extraneous dates? The date on the left is 1960 and I know Kennedy halves first started being minted in 1964. This all begs the question: what do I have here?
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=723783"/>

It looks plated. For 1980 if it was a proof it would have a "S" mint stamp. That looks like "D" as far as I can see. Those 1960 stamped ones were common for an independent (not Gov) mint would stamp then and gold plate them. I believe that for the gold plate to bond to the Copper-Zinc composition coin they have to plate a silver colored metal first (maybe nickel?). A family member did gold plating on car emblems years ago and I saw it on the Discovery channel more recently. Maybe one of our experts can chime in.

 

[enamel7]

Dawg I says it once and I says it again, it's a commemorative that's fairly common

It's not a commemorative, at least not Gov issue. In the world of coin collecting it is damaged goods.
HH
enamel7

 

[Wilmingtonsilver]

It is a gold plated half commemorating the 20th anniversary of Kennedy's election. 1960-1980. Twenty years. It is not an official commemorative from the US Mint though. It is one of those cheap coins you get suckered into from a tv commercial. if it is worth more than 50 cents, it is only by a penny. Most people through it back.

 

[Rascal]

A true proof will have a frosty appearance if it is clean. That one looks simply to have been cleaned and polished a bit, and the date stamps are just a gimmick to make it seem to be 'special.' It is in the sense that you may consider tossing it in with your odd finds that are semi-interesting and putting together an album of oddities, but other than being a curiosity it has no special value insofar as being a collectible.

If you look long enough you'll find actual proofs ranging from dirty and rough to almost pristine. I keep all my proofs for later critical scanning to see what might fit into an proof-only album. The lesser coins that aren't needed as placeholders (rough condition but it *is* a proof, vs. a near pristine and very showable sample for that year and mint mark) will get tossed back into the fray eventually.

Rascal

 

[fistfulladirt]

I thought we were overdue, has it been 2 weeks already?

 

[sagittarius98]

I thought we were overdue, has it been 2 weeks already?

I don't think so. I think it's like a week and a half.

 

[jamin_03]

For Christmas, my in-laws got a half similar to what you got... first thing I thought was "that's kind of cool" then my numismatic brain kicked in and I thought "well that's just a waste of money buying something like that." I, of course, didn't say that to the in-laws, but shared my appreciation.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/a...0384-christmas-silver-money-jacobs-coins.jpeg

 

[SilverForBrains]

its a kennedy commemorative coin, that's plated (silver plated I think but not sure)

 

[usandthem]

I have found these coins that were plated in gold and what looks like chrome.