How to tell the difference between a 1964 Kennedy proof and business strike?

Saw this auction and wondered whether or not it was actually a "proof".

http://www.ebay.com/itm/381165505898

How would you tell a beat-up proof versus a nice-looking, mint-state (or less) business strike 1964 Kennedy half?

 

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Wow, $18.49 (includes shipping) for that condition. ???

 

Yeah, exactly.

 

Not a proof, you can tell by the fields

 

Yeah, I see nothing there that would indicate a proof strike. But hey, if they can get $18 for it...time to consign some stuff to them.

 

Brb, selling all my 1964 Proof Kennedy's.

 

Agreed no Proof there..

 

@KoinJester How exactly?

I agree that it doesn't "look" like a proof, but I'm still "new" to this (relatively) and wouldn't be able to rattle off the concrete reasons like many of you can.

 

For a circulated 1964 Kennedy, nobody's going to care if it's proof or a business strike, since either way its value is bullion. Remnants of a mirrored field would be your best hint that it's a proof.

There are two things to look for that would indicate a circulated coin is something other than an ordinary business strike, and worth a premium over bullion. The accented hair is proof only, so if you see this on a coin, it's a proof. The SMS half, if I recall, has a small teardrop die chip by the 4 (can someone corroborate, please?), and is a rare coin. I don't know if the same dies used to make the SMS coins were also used for normal business strikes, however.

 

Exactly.

And more specifically, remnants of the mirrored fields are always found in the "protected" areas of the coin such as the areas between the letters in the motto or right up next to the devices.

 

277,254,766 proof
156,205,446 uncirculated

Right now mintage around 50,000. We are scarce to dead.

 

I've heard some dealers refer to circulated proof strike coins as "impaired proofs." Technically, such a coin does not morph into a business strike coin. For most coins, it will make little difference in value......but

some proof coins had tiny mintages, and command huge premiums over b-strikes for same coin. Check graysheet for proof gold coins minted between 1909 and 1914. an impaired proof 1915 Saint in grade 50PF would command more than an AU50 b-strike of same year (b-strike 1915 Saint in AU will fetch a small premium over melt.).

How much more is a really hard question. Not many transactions to evaluate.

 

There is no way that coin is a proof. It is just a circulated JFK.

 

Not a proof piece from where I'm sitting.....

 

Hey it's an 'antique' AND ALSO FROM THE SAME SELLER:
Antique 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar Coin 90%
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-192...28?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58c0522108#