2014-S Enhanced Uncirculated Kennedy Half-Dollar Laser Treatments

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A key coin within the four-piece 2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Silver Coin Collection is the 2014-S Enhanced Uncirculated Kennedy Half-Dollar.

2014-S Enhanced Uncirculated Kennedy Half-Dollars
Photo of 2014-S Enhanced Uncirculated Kennedy Half-Dollars

We watched these unique collectibles getting made during our recent visit to the San Francisco Mint. (See photos of them.) An upcoming story will discuss how they’re produced, and we’ll make sure to publish it before the set’s release on Tuesday, Oct. 28. As a primer for the article, we wanted to first offer illustrations of the special treatments dies receive to create the coin. For that, take a look at this color-coded graphic showing the areas of treatment:

Treatment for the 2014-S Enhanced Uncirculated 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar
Treatments for the 2014-S Enhanced Uncirculated Kennedy Silver Half-Dollar: Yellow = Enhanced Wire Brushing; Purple = Heavy Laser Frosting; Blue = Standard Laser Frosting; and White = Laser Polished

Fields, shown in yellow, receive a special wire brushing technique. The other colors represent varying intensities of laser applications:

  • Purple indicates areas of heavy laser frosting,
  • Blue shows regions of standard or moderate laser frosting, and
  • White represents the use of laser polishing

The distinctive treatments look spectacular when using a loupe to view the coins. To the naked eye, however, the presentation is more subtle. Keep that in mind. These half-dollars don’t have an advantage of size like last year’s 2013-W Enhanced Uncirculated Silver Eagle which so effectively highlighted its multiple laser frostings.

Having also seen reverse proof Kennedys made at West Point, my thinking is that most collectors will rank them above the other three coins from the 2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Silver Coin Collection. Their mirrored design devices against frosted backgrounds jump out handsomely — there’s nothing subtle about the overall effect. The enhanced uncirculated half-dollar described in this article will probably come in second, followed by the standard proof from Philadelphia and then the standard uncirculated half-dollar from Denver.

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jim

Mike –
The only colors I see are the yellow (hard to miss that), grey (found mainly on the Kennedy image), blue (on the reverse eagle wings and attachments), and white (on all the stars). Not seeing purple anywhere unless it’s so small and close to blue it’s indistinguishable.

Mike Unser

Jim, the purple is a bit “washed,” looking like grey based on your description.

Dan

Can anyone get on an early ordering list or does everyone need to wait until 10-28-14 to order?

Kevin

Dan, this will be the first significant test of the Mint’s new and improved website. Old website had a waiting room which helped to handle the surge of people trying to order online at once.

jim

Statement on the US Mint web site: This product will be available for sale on October 28, 2014, at 12 noon (ET).

The only way I’ve seen early ordering is via subscription or enrollment.