Hi,
I just bought a Johnson products half dollar shell and it has a copper rim. It is a 1974 Kennedy head. Is this normal?
I have a set of 4 halves which are around 1964-1968 in date and they are all silver. Surely this rim will just give the shell away, standing out as strange.
I am not familiar with other halves- do they have a rim? Do I need to send this one back and try and order a specific type of shell?
Thanks for your help
Shanester

If I'm not mistaken around 1964 was the last time the halves were made all silver.
After that time the copper rim was put in place and I'm looking at some now the later the date the more of the copper you see.

I suppose if your halves are all silver then it might look out of place. You may need to get some newer halves.

Hope it works out alright.
Hope this is of some help.

Best of luck
Nick zender

Re: It is a 1974 Kennedy head. Is this normal?

Yes, 1974 Kennedy half dollars are clad coins.

If you want to use solid silver coins you will also need to special order the shell to match.

Jon is correct, if you want a silver Kennedy shell they are typically 1964 Kennedy's. Years after are clad coins and will have copper edges.



What did you hear? I have never ever heard one bad thing ever said of the quality of Johnson coins.

I think '64 was the ONLY year for the kennedy silver half.

Edited my post,
Had a brain fart going on, you are right the Johnson was the one they said I should have got!
I ordered a Sasco and believe that was the one they said was of not so great quality.....
Sorry.
Nick Zender

Yes, 1964 was the only year for all silver Kennedy's that were in circulation. The 1968 has enough silver in it to make it look like a 1964, but it is still a clad coin, but not with the obvious copper looking rim. Hope this helps. 1964 would be the best bet for a nice looking all silver shell.

Thanks everyone, you've been very informative. I am on the case
Shanester

If you can exchange it, that would be the best solution. If not, go to a craft store & purchase a product called "Rug & Buff". It comes as a paste in many colors. It is used to touch up picture frames that have been nicked or scratched. Match up the best color in silver & rub it into the edge of the coin. It will turn the edge silver so that the clad color is gone. It will last a long time but you will have to re-apply it every so often.

Sorry, the name of the product is Rub & Buff

If you're looking for perhaps the best shells ever made I suggest you contact Jamie Schoolcraft who's post is above this one.

Jamie is an unbelieveable machinist who has now started manufacturing gaffed coins. He's a very modest gentleman who I doubt will sing his own praise but I will. I've known him for years and was fortunate to run into him at the last WMS convention. He showed me his portfolio of gaffs he's been creating without any of us knowing what he's been up too. Let me say three words about the quality.

AWESOME
AMAZING
THE BEST

Ok, I got carried away and used four words. I don't know when he's going to start selling his wares as he had just finished getting his shop together which is dedicated to making a line of gaffed coins and custom coins as well.

He had quite a collection with him...all of the stuff that's been impossible to find or difficult to obtain. Forget Johnson, Sassco and the other pretenders. And the best part is you won't have to wait six months to get what you order.

Once everyone sees what he's doing there will be a flood of what used to be the best on E-Bay. My advice is to sell what you have now before it's worthless.

I've got my order in...