Kennedy half dollar Master Hub Trial? 1 1

[Coincollecting2021]

A convex mirror design Kennedy half dollar rev. It has a small D mark meaning it is made in Denver. This is coin appear to be made of resin or plastic weighting 1.1g . It is semi-transparent under light. It is very thin and light. I am not sure if this is coin is a trial or a test strike. 

REV of the coin

REV of the coin showing the transparent images of the front.

[Greenstang]

Looks like someone has made a resin casting from a half dollar, that’s why everything is in reverse and  contuse. Not a coin or a trial piece.

Edited February 24, 2022 by Greenstang

[Fenntucky Mike]

What Greenstang said. Done for arts and crafts/DIY project would be my guess... or just because. It's kind of interesting, I'd keep it, might find a use for it later.  I keep everything though, at least for a little while. 

[RWB]

On 2/24/2022 at 5:03 PM, Greenstang said:

Looks like someone has made a resin casting from a half dollar, that’s why everything is in reverse and  contuse. Not a coin or a trial piece.

Yep. That ought to be self-evident.

[DWLange]

That's the resin cap which protects proof dies from damage while in transit. A friend of mine who retired from the SF Mint in 1987 gave me several for half dollar dies. They pick up a perfect impression from the die face. I don't know whether the US Mint still does that these days.

[tj96]

On 2/24/2022 at 8:47 PM, DWLange said:

That's the resin cap which protects proof dies from damage while in transit. A friend of mine who retired from the SF Mint in 1987 gave me several for half dollar dies. They pick up a perfect impression from the die face. I don't know whether the US Mint still does that these days.

Something I never would have known or even thought about.  Thanks Dave! 

So the next obvious question: @Coincollecting2021- Where did you get it? 

[VKurtB]

“trial or test strike”

Please. 
 

A resin die cap is still a pretty neat piece. It’s just the term guesses that make me see red. 

[RWB]

On 2/24/2022 at 8:47 PM, DWLange said:

That's the resin cap which protects proof dies from damage while in transit. A friend of mine who retired from the SF Mint in 1987 gave me several for half dollar dies. They pick up a perfect impression from the die face. I don't know whether the US Mint still does that these days.

Great info --- one of those obscure details that add bits to our knowledge. Clearly, my "self evident" remark was not self evident except that it is resin, and not how it was used.

[DWLange]

I'll add that the examples illustrated have been cropped. As delivered, the die caps wrap around the die's shank to the point where the die is beveled to a greater diameter. They look somewhat like a "die cap" mint error that has similarly wrapped itself around the die shank due to repeated strikings.

[tj96]

On 2/25/2022 at 12:01 PM, DWLange said:

I'll add that the examples illustrated have been cropped. As delivered, the die caps wrap around the die's shank to the point where the die is beveled to a greater diameter. They look somewhat like a "die cap" mint error that has similarly wrapped itself around the die shank due to repeated strikings.

Sorry for all the questions:

These must have been used for the protection of all dies, not just proofs?

Would this resin cap be made from a two part A & B apoxy?

This one must have been for the anvil die?

How do you think the OP acquired it?

Edited March 3, 2022 by tj96

[DWLange]

How do you think the OP acquired it?

I was given a handful of them by a friend of mine who was the senior die setter at the SF Mint. They were just considered junk, so there was no problem with removing them from the facility.

[tj96]

On 3/4/2022 at 4:21 PM, DWLange said:

How do you think the OP acquired it?

I was given a handful of them by a friend of mine who was the senior die setter at the SF Mint. They were just considered junk, so there was no problem with removing them from the facility.

Interesting. Very nice. Thanks for that!

[FlyingAl]

DWLange, were the die caps used for circulation dies as well or just proofs? I assume both since the die was destined for Denver, but if these caps weren't used for circulation dies, then it must be something else, right?

[numisport]

I don't see an obverse die cap with a D mintmark

[gmarguli]

On 3/5/2022 at 7:39 AM, numisport said:

I don't see an obverse die cap with a D mintmark

The D was on the reverse for the 1964. Switched to obverse in 1968.

[numisport]

Something I should know, sorry

[DWLange]

At that time the SFM struck only proof coins, so the die caps were all for proofs, and the obverse ones have S mintmarks.