Silver-Clad Question
 

Hi, I was wondering how much silver-clad kennedy halves of the late sixties differ from regular clad coinage when viewed from the side. Is the copper strip not as brightly red as the later kennedys or when I pull a roll out am I going to have to look at every single date. I got a roll from the bank and it had a '67 in it and I noticed it right away from the side because it was a lighter copper strip, but that was the only one and I don't know from my sample of one if that is the case with all 40% kennedy's. Anyone with several 40% kennedy's in their possession who could help with an answer would be greatly appreciated. I'd rather just pull a pile of coins from a wrapper and do a quick side check than have to look at every single coin's obverse for a check on the silver content.

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

None of my 40% silver halves even have a copper strip...I only have a small sample size of 39, but zero of them have any copper showing.

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

1965-1970 (1970 are more rare so you wont find many) are 40% silver. They DONT have a copper strip. Trust me i have looked at several thousand dollars maybe even ten thousands worth of halfs and ever 40% i found did NOT have a copper strip!


Yes you can unroll the roll and just look at the sides.

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

Anything that's not 90% I wouldn't hold since they won't refine it and that makes it as useful as clad IMHO

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

The best way to find a silver coin in a roll is with your ears not your eyes. When I open a roll of halves I drop them from one hand into the other like you were playing with a slinky iffen you know what that is. The silver coins will have an unmistakenable ring compared to the dull sound of the plain cupro-nickle clads. You can look at the rolls on the edge view a see the silver ones except some coins have been buried or are discolored and are not easy to spot but will always ring. I spent many years prospecting for silver coins in the banks, Hope this helps.

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

Can you back of this statement with some facts or links? Why are the large dealers creating a market for these coins then?

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

Takes to much time to throw them back and forth. Much eaiser and faster to open and look. Well in my opinion

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

They do refine 40% silver halfs and 35% silver war nickles. Just it cost more because its harder to get the pure silver out

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

My mistake, my refiner (midwest) doesn't. Still seems like the long way around the barn too me,silver is bulky enough as it is. Just MHO

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

The 40% and war nickels get thrown in my misc melt bucket along with sterling, european coins etc...

$75 for the assay and 2% more discount. But, I do not think that the refiner would take a bag lot of just 40%. Too bulky and low yielding.

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

Thanks a lot for the replies. Yeah the strip on the side of my 40% is very, very light. It is basically the color of silver, but slightly off color. There is definitely a two tone if you look close. But I was easily able to tell from the side that it wasn't straight clad. I was posting the question because I didn't know if it ever was a bright copper color. Now I know it isn't, which is great news. It is good to know that I can "prospect" that much quicker. :emotions16:

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

If you only look at the edges, you will miss many of the 40% halves. I bought several rolls of them and checked the dates on each. When turning them on edge to put into rolls, I saw just about every shade of copper stripe. I remember seeing a couple with no stripe, and I had to look carefully at the dates again to be sure that they were not 90%. You will need to read the dates to be sure that you find all of the 40%. :Sorry:

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

i've always just looked at the date, this thread made me curious so i pulled out my bag of 40% and looked (about $65). most, but not all, the Denver mint halves have a copper band. neither of the "S" marked 76's have it, and i only found 1 Philly marked that had a really light band.

all total, about half the 40% that i looked at had a band.

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

ah, okay then. bummer. I guess I can't be lazy. :dong:

Re: Silver-Clad Question
 

You are correct. The 40% halves look different on the edges than the 90%. You are not seeing things. I'm looking at a 1969 right now and there is a slight hint of copper on the edge. Some more than others. 40% do have a different sound than the 71's and on. They sound brighter. Don't have any 90% handy for comparison.

It's always best to check the dates when sorting. At times I can immediately spot the 40% the rest of the time I need to check the dates to be sure.