Expert: PAPAJACK - 11/21/2008

Question
I have a 1972 half dollar. It has Kennedy on the Front and an Eagle on the back but it seems to be upside down. Can you tell me if it is common or not

Thanks

Answer
Hello Danny,                   

I am not sure what do you mean by “but it seems to be upside down” ?
Are you flipping it top to bottom or right to left?

There is no record of your coin being made this way at the US Mints.

The U.S. coinage uses what is called a COIN turn.
Most other country’s use what is called a MEDALIAC turn. This simply means that when the coin is turned over from left to right looking at the heads side that the reverse side is viewed right-side up as well.
As a medal you wear on a chain would be viewed right side up as it flips on your neck. Thus the term MEDALIC TURN.

For the COIN turn the medal is always 180 degree offset. You have to flip it top to bottom looking at the heads side that the reverse side is viewed right-side up as well.

The reason was to be unique and basically different from the Spanish and mostly English coins that were the only form of coins in America prior to 1793, when the US opened its own minting facility in Philadelphia.

If your coin exhibit’s the Medalic Turn it should be looked at by a dealer.
If you write back with;
1) The general location (nearest large cities),
2) Some postal zip codes in the area of the coins I can direct you to an AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION MEMBER/DEALER near there. They are ethical and trustworthy.

Please use the private question option by checking the box on the question page.

Thank you and have a great day,
PapaJack