Sarah wentworth Well,Sarah,that's correct for a real silver coin(even 400/1000 debased silver,as those halfs  were made of). Silver is a non-magnetic metal!

In this case,still stands the weight which is not exactly what it should be & the diameter which is also not Ok.,to prouve a fake. Your coin MAY BE made of a copper(also a non-magnetic metal) core and then silverplated.

Otherwise,I don't know what to say more! If weight + diameter of any coin are not standard ones,fake/copy is proved.

Andi

Sarah wentworth Dear Sarah,a few minutes earlier I saw another msg. of yours,that now disappeared (you deleted it?!) and to which I had not enough time to respond. You asked me what happens with fakes?! Fakes are generally worthless,except some old contemporary fakes which are collected by some people & are,in a way, valuable for collections (but less than a genuine piece).

You asked also if there is a 100% sure method to determine a fake/genuine coin?! The answer is: Yes,but the device needed (an ''X Rays'' scanner is not available to us,it is too expensive:8000-10000$ or more). Only some big jewels' shops have such.

Andi

Sarah wentworth Sarah,yes,I saw now the new photos which show same diameter... Remains only the weight,if your electronic scale is well calibrated(??).

Definitive NON DESTRUCTIVE method to say the coin's metal is the ''X Rays'' scanner....

Andi

William Cross Hi,William! As I already told Sarah,I don't know so very well the american coinage,as it seems you do. Please tell me if a +0.1g. is an acceptable real tolerance for a Kennedy half $? Thank you! 

P.S.: Also,your piece of info. about counterfeits MORE valuable than genuine coins is a rule acting for ALL coins (all countries,all times,all issues) or just only for some issues? Thanks again!

Andi

Andi Pasculescu It pertains to all, there are 3 levels of counterfeiting numbered just so with 3 being the best, good enough to fool any TPG or even the government.  There is a way to tell though...............

William Cross ok, I don't know about the other countries, if they are valuable or not but depending upon the level stated, a 1 2 or 3 i would think yes. You can actually order any denomination you want from a certain site. The value comes in when they are made to use in commerce or to sell as graded real coins. That is illegal which places more value on them for certain/many reasons. Most are a level 1, terrible copies without "copy" on them. However did you know that dies from this country have made their way to other countries, official dies, and that is a tell right there taking into account the mintage figures and die markers. I will say no more about the tells, there is a science to it.

Andi Pasculescu also i listed the tolerances about 6 days ago. I did not see your post, sorry. Its right down there somewhere in posts. I do tend to talk a lot.

Andi Pasculescu oh, inspect the reeding, a bit irregular which is another diagnostic.

William Cross William,please,another question for you: Is it possible for Sarah's half of 1968 to have been minted,by error, with a silver finess of 900/1000 instead of 400/1000 as usual? I mean: minted officially like this?

Thanks!

Andi

Andi Pasculescu yes it is absolutely possible as specimens have been found however not many. Every denomination of every year has the possibility of being struck on an off planchet. There is a list of "known" pieces and the value however I believe not all have been located.

The pattern sets of old in this collection have some struck in aluminum, copper, silver, goloid, and many other alloys.

Just for reference, the original owner of this collection started in the mid 1800s and also invented the zinc alloy used today in some form for coins. He was a metallurgical genius with the government papers and HUGE medals presented to him for his achievements in alloys.

Andi Pasculescu also "officially " would be right and wrong. When these off metal pieces are found the government usually wants them back but that may have changed. My brother is a secret service agent and that is the agency that deals with this.

The error collection recently sold at auction was actually confiscated by the secret service for inspection then released back to the owner for auction. Cool huh??

Andi Pasculescu the problem with the 90% for this piece, the weight should be more or the diameter should be less. If proper diameter 12.50 grams would be proper.

William Cross Hi,William! Thanks for your last 3 msgs. (you addressed to me) & for the info. brought with them. 

But,if the things are like this and Sarah's coin weights 11.6g. & has the exactly same diameter as regular pieces should have,what is YOUR PERSONAL OPINION for which reason Sarah's half $ doesn't look like its ''brothers''(has different edge aspect)?! The photos Sarah provided clearly show this.

Thank you!

Andi

Andi Pasculescu to tell you the truth, I would have to measure the diameter and thickness of the coin, then shoot it with a laser gun to see if it has been struck or something else. The ring test will tell a lot, if struck the tons of force produce a ring that is different from a fake. 

I hope you don't feel I was contradicting you, I was only adding my 2 cents for what that's worth.. you have much more info than I do. 

I just posted 2 ancients but my name does not show.

Andi Pasculescu OR...... a small nick on the edge, which is destructive i know, should reveal copper or an off blue colour, like halfway between the reeds.

It looks real and it may just be overplated by the mint as you said,, or plated by a student in school which was a "thing" back then but usually in nickel ***

Andi Pasculescu I have some old nickel plated coins from back then if you would like to see some.

Andi Pasculescu personal opinion, 80% silver clad over approx. 80 % copper 20% silver core. Or altered, or improper planchet, in that order.

Paul Richards I have a question and as you have more contacts than I...Why do the 2021 Peace Dollar Commemorative Coins have 4 berries??? These are supposed to be the 100 year anniversary of the 1921, 1921 has 3 berries not 4 at least none of the 1921 pieces I have has 4 and I  have access to several in different finishes and die states.

Ask around, I  don't know who to ask and I literally just realized this, about 1 minute ago. They may know,, they may not, I dont.

Thanks!!

Hi William --

Sorry for the slow response. There's a lot going on at our house, and -- somehow -- coinquest always ends up at the bottom of the priority pile. Haha!

I won't be much help with your question. Personally, I have zero interest in modern mint products. My interest goes negative when I see the government limiting production to drive prices up. That frosts me.

Of course, your question got me wondering. Sure enough, they changed the sprig design from 3 berries to 4 berries when they went from high relief to low relief in 1922. The new 2021 coins follow the 1922 design.

Again personally, I have lost all respect for the US government over the past 4 years. When covid hit, all respect vanished, in my book. The fact that they don't do what they say is no surprise to me ... no surprise at all.