1976 Kennedy Proof RPM unattributed?

[Toned Woodie]

20170317_1951511.jpg

Looks repunched to me and surely this has been discovered long ago?

[MintErrors]

To me, this looks like the punch was kind of flat on the right hand side. Its like they struck the "S" into the die and bottomed out the punch.
The dent on the top left curve of the "S" looks interesting. But if there was that much separation of the two curves, I think I would see some split serifs on the top and bottom of the "S".

I don't see a listing for this in www.varietyvista.com, under the Kennedy halves, rpm section. Nor do I see it at ngccoin.com under the research tab, variety plus listings. PCGS only lists a clad 1976-S proof and that is listed as 1976-S Clad DDR FS-801, which is a doubled die reverse, not a rpm.

Even the Kennedy half dollar resource pages do not mention an RPM;
http://www.kennedyhalfdollar.com/err...1971-1980.html


If ken Potter was to chime in, he would probably say......... "shoot more photos of the mint mark at different angles".
And I agree. some of my best attribution shots were of rpm's that were photographed upside down or at 90 degree angles. I have even elevated the coin slightly and pulled off some amazing photos.

[Toned Woodie]

My findings were the same as yours and I dug hard and deep.

This was provided to me and only pretty much only made things murkier!

http://www.varietyvista.com/Doubled%...f%201974-S.htm

I'll snap several more pix and upon looking at the other two in this set, they are also somewhat curious.

The papers do say they are 40% silver.

Thanks.

[Toned Woodie]

20170329_142532.jpg

20170329_142632.jpg

20170329_142737.jpg

Here are the MM's for all three in the set with the JFK in question (likely MD) above this text.

The set below

20170317_194938.jpg

[Toned Woodie]

School me on the peculiarities associated with MD only on a MM. I see nothing resembling MD anywhere else on this coin.

[MintErrors]

On this particular coin, if this is the only area that might exhibit something odd, then it could very well be a damaged punch. These punches are no more than a piece of rod with a mintmark on the end. Before the mid 1990's these were struck into the dies by hand. If they struck it more than once, it was an rpm. If they struck it once and it was too hard or at a slight angle and they pulled the die out, it could easily leave a burr or damage a small portion of the mint mark.

As far as machine doubling, it could happen anywhere on the coin. All it takes is a little piece of metal to be higher than the normal devices. if the die, once raising up after the strike does not clear the affected area, and the coin gets partially sheared by the die.

The reason I personally don't believe its an rpm is IF those left hand upper curve of the "S" were two separate curves, with that much spacing, I'd be inclined to see some split serifs or at least another area showing some sort of separation.

To me, this one looks like the mint mark was punched into the die really hard and it bottomed out on the right side. They removed the struck punch slightly to the left, slightly damaging the "S". The third photo is the one most clearly showing the issue, it almost looks like a chip of the mint mark is missing.

Could the same thing happen to a re-punched mint mark? Absolutely. But I usually look at other resources first to determine if the coin in question may have a slew of RPM's ( like Lincoln Cents of 1960, 1959) and Kennedy halves (1964 for DDO/DDR and 1964-D for RPM's and DDO/DDR). The coin in question is a year that is very thin on discovered RPM's. Maybe Ken Potter can chime in with his "50 cents" worth on this coin.

I am human I do make mistakes, But simply put, I don't feel the love on this one. =\

[Toned Woodie]

Thanks, your explanation sounds quite logical and I appreciate your opinion.

I'll look it over once again and see if I've missed anything subtle.

I don't think I have though and that has me agreeing with your take on things.