Owner Comments:
A STUDY OF BUSINESS STRIKE STAR COINS, INCLUDING ONE WITH A RARE PROOF-LIKE OBVERSE.
2 DIFFERENT NGC STAR COINS ARE SHOWN HERE IN KEEPING WITH THE GOAL OF THIS SET. BOTH PHOTOS SHOW THE ACTUAL COINS FROM MY COLLECTION. ONE WAS AWARDED A STAR FOR A PROOF-LIKE OBVERSE, THE OTHER WAS AWARDED A STAR FOR A COLORFUL REVERSE. THESE 1966 STAR COINS ARE ACTUALLY A COUPLE OF THE RAREST COINS OF THIS SERIES, WITH 1966 NGC STAR HALFS SHOWING AN EXTREMELY LOW POPULATION. THEY ALMOST NEVER COME ON THE MARKET.
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A) Coin #1 - COIN ON THE LEFT- MS65 STAR. ** CONDITION RARITY. **
**(low population coin In MS 65 STAR. ) **
NGC HAS ONLY GRADED 15 1966 BUSINESS STRIKES WITH A STAR FOR THIS DATE , ONLY 3 OF THOSE AS MS65 STAR, WHICH MAKES THIS COIN ONE OF THE MOST RARE COINS IN THE SET. THIS COIN WOULD BE VIRTUALLY IR-REPLACEABLE.
At first glance the coin on the left appears to be a Special Mint Set ( SMS ) coin. Look again, because the coin on the left is a business strike ! This coin might be considered ir-replaceable due to the rare (for this date) proof-like surface on a business strike Kennedy.
THE COIN ON THE LEFT RECIEVED A STAR DESIGNATION FOR IT'S REFLECTIVE, PROOF-LIKE OBVERSE. THIS COIN WAS POSSIBLY STRUCK USING A SPECIAL MINT SET DIE FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO ASSAY OFFICE (see NGC EXPLORER ). THERE IS 1 KNOWN 1966 BUSINESS STRIKE GRADED FULL PL. THE COIN PICTURED IS PL ON THE OBVERSE ONLY, HENCE A STAR DESIGNATION INSTEAD OF PL DESIGNATION. ( POPULATION = 3 IN MS65 STAR ).
NGC states in it's NGC EXPLORER comments that it is speculated that the Denver Mint could have received some used SMS dies that resulted in the few rare proof-like coins that exist in business strikes dated 1965-1967. See NGC Explorer. That is pure speculation of course, as these coins were produced almost 60 years ago.
B) Coin #2- COIN ON THE RIGHT IS GRADED BY NGC AS MS64 STAR. *** CONDITION RARITY*** (Population extremely low in MS64 STAR). A reverse mounted colorful toner, apparently receiving it's Star for the exceptional color toning. On rare occasions a business strike Kennedy might receive a star designation for a proof-like obverse, as in coin #1. Most business strike half dollars awarded a Star were done so because of nice color toning, as shown here on coin #2.
Here is another extremely rare 1966 business strike ( not to be confused with a SPECIAL MINT SET ) with a Star Designation. This is a case where neither the registry points awarded these Star coins , nor the price guide value reflect the true scarcity in this condition and grade. Many of the early business strike Kennedy Halfs awarded a STAR designation by NGC are very rare. Try finding one anywhere !
Perhaps this is the rarest coin in my collection. At first glance one might assume the Star Designation was awarded only for the outrageous COLOR on the reverse of the coin. But on close examination, this coin also has a Proof-Like obverse as well, making it a double rarity. I think it would be difficult to find another business strike coin in this series that is identical to it.
Interesting stuff !