1964-P Half - Burnished area right wing

[toast]

Studying Kennedy halves, I ran across one that had a burnished area (highly polished) just below and above the right wing tip, and the area between the O and A (OF AMERICA). I chalked it up to handling as I'm guessing all the coins I'm looking at are circulated. However, I soon came across another 1964-P that was almost identical. It doesn't appear that the wing itself has any anomolies... just the field areas.

Could someone please provide any idea of what I'm seeing so I can do some investigation? Any info would be appreciated. thanks

[wavysteps]

I honest believe that this is caused by a struck through grease area. As for die polishing, it is a possibility, but I can not see the reasoning behind such a move.

[toast]

Thanks for guidance. However, I'm so uninitiated at this point that I don't have a good mental image of the steps in coin production... nor specifically what a struck trough grease area refers to. Is it a result of planchet feed or some other throughput production process that lays down a grease film before striking? If so, what machine action would cause the proof-like finish? Any info appreciated.

[19Lyds]

I've seen this quite frequently on Kennedy Half Dollars and have always wondered what caused it.

However, I never though it was "struck through grease" auince the affected area does have a very high degree of "polishing" to it.

Maybe someone else will wander by.

[toast]

"I've seen this quite frequently on Kennedy Half Dollars and have always wondered what caused it."


Thanks for the response Lee. Your verification leads me to believe that perhaps I can find more info out there. best