1970-D PL Kennedy Half Dollar

[CarolinaCollector]

I got a little carried away and purchased this coin four years ago at a Teletrade auction. It's appearance reminded me of the 65-67 SMS coins:

 

1970-D Kennedy ANACS 65-PL Link

 

Here is my question. Are there many proof-like 68-D, 69-D, and 70-D halves out there? I've only seen one other 70-D in proof-like.

 

The obverse mirrors on this coin compare to my 70-S proof in depth. The reverse mirrors are weaker than the proof, but still very reflective.

 

I would appreciate any information that the Kennedy half experts have about this coin.

[James_OldeTowne]

I am by no means an expert, but I can tell you about past experience. I have indeed seen a very few D-mint Kennedy halves that were fully proof-like, just as you say, like an SMS coin. I've also seen this on quarters of the same era, and do in fact own a 1968-D Washington quarter that looks exactly like an SMS coin. I do think they are somewhat rare, as I can count the number of coins I've seen like this on one hand, but for all I know, there may be rolls of them stored away somewhere.

 

Great coin, and one I think you should hold onto.

 

James

[midwest]

You should ask Braddick since he's sold a few Pl Kennedies this past week.

[braddick]

I love hunting for the 70-D Kennedy is true PL as they're difficult to locate, but not impossible.

 

Here's one I'm offering now on eBay

 

The extra bonus is when these turn up with mirrors!

[kryptonitecomics]

Pat......but it's in a PCI holder........is the MS67 Grade and PL designation really legit?

 

Would NGC, PCGS, or ANACS cross that coin with the PL designation and if so do you think it's a lock for the 67?

[EZ_E]

 

[cladking]

The '70-D is much more common in PL than the '68 & 9 issues. About 2% show some PL features and ten or twenty percent of these will be highly PL. Clean examples are quite rare. "68-D, '70 and '72-D quarters are the most common of the clad eagle-reverse issues in PL at about 3%, 2%, and 5% incidence respectively. This, of course, refers to the mint set issues and PL's for circulation tend to be far scarcer.

 

Virtually all the moderns exist in PL but many are extremely scarce and some are less PL than others.

[braddick]

I didn't crank up the contrast on my photos for this auction (although, admittingly, I wanted too. . .) but the mirrors are there and if it's not 67 it's a lock 6.

 

I almost wasn't going to sell it as finding another will be somewhat difficult (at least in my area as Rick Tomaska pretty much scours all the local shops for fun stuff like this!).