A Star Is Born

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 As a coin collector, the simple act of sifting through rolls always carries the hope of finding something special, perhaps a new doubled-die variety in a fresh roll of 2024 Kennedy half dollars from the bank. Little did I expect that a routine search would lead to the discovery of a prominent star located unequivocally where it didn’t belong—the coin’s obverse—setting in motion an unexpected journey toward expert authentication.

The Hunt

I began looking at the coins from the roll, following my usual routine, and I set one coin aside that I initially suspected might be a candidate for a new doubled-die variety. I wasn’t completely sure, and, wanting a second opinion, I showed it to someone else to confirm whether it was the variety I was hoping to find. They took a look and decided it was not a doubled die.

A lot of collectors know the disappointment you feel when you think you found something and it turns out to be a dud. It was just another regular Kennedy half dollar—or so I thought. I was just about to drop the coin into my change jar when I decided to give it one more look, just in case I missed something. I was zealously examining the coin under a microscope when something stopped me. Right there, on Kennedy’s cheek, was a distinct star. I thought, this can’t be right. Kennedy half dollars have stars, of course, but they appear only on the reverse, surrounding the eagle. Seeing one clearly on the president’s face was jarring, confusing, and instantly piqued an intense curiosity unlike any routine doubled-die hunt.

More Investigation

I took a bunch of pictures with the microscope and looked at them on my computer. Yes, it was definitely a star, similar to those on the reverse. My mind immediately jumped to the possibilities: Could it be some kind of dramatic doubled die? My initial magnification hinted at some splitting on the points, a characteristic sometimes seen in doubling. But how would a star from the reverse design end up on the obverse?

This sent me down a rabbit hole of research. I looked again under the microscope, examining the star from different angles. This phase of the investigation was confusing. Depending on the lighting, the shadows seemed to play tricks on me, making me question if it was raised or incuse. There were no obvious signs of damage and no scratches or manipulation in the surrounding metal that would suggest someone had altered the coin after it left the mint. And crucially, it was just the star. No other random marks or ghostly design elements that might be expected from a die clash.

Time to Ask Others

Feeling both excitement and uncertainty, I turned to coin collecting forums. I posted photos, describing what I saw and asking for opinions. The feedback was mixed. Some were intrigued, acknowledging its unusual nature. There was debate about whether the star was raised or incuse, fueled by the challenges of interpreting microscopic photos. Some suggested post-mint manipulation, arguing that an incuse mark was most likely tooling. Others debated potential, though improbable, mint error scenarios. While the feedback was helpful, the lack of consensus only added to the puzzle.

Off to PCGS

After considering the feedback and re-examining the coin closely, I still believed that it was a legitimate anomaly, and I decided the only way to know for sure was to send it to the experts. I submitted the coin to Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), the industry leader in coin authentication and grading. The waiting period filled me with anticipation. Would they confirm it was a rare error or simply label it as damaged? I constantly checked the pending orders page on the PCGS website.

PCGS Certification Page

The day PCGS posted the grading information was incredible. There it was, clear as day on the screen: a “Mint Error” designation. The specific attribution of “Dropped Star Obverse” and the nice grade of Mint State (MS)-65 confirmed that my strange find was a genuine, high-grade error. While the initial wave of surprise and validation came via the computer screen, nothing compared to FedEx dropping off the coin. Seeing that official label in person provided a powerful sense of finality and made the discovery feel truly real.

This discovery is particularly meaningful for several reasons. Finding a significant, specifically attributed error like this on a brand-new 2024 coin, straight out of a bank roll, is quite rare with the modern practices the mint has in place. A “Dropped Star” is an uncommon type of struck-through error, and finding a design element like a star in such a prominent and unexpected location is highly unusual, potentially even unprecedented for the Kennedy half dollar series.

Keep Looking!

My journey from a routine coin roll hunt to a PCGS-certified “Dropped Star Obverse” discovery coin has been an incredible experience. It highlights that even in the age of modern coinage, exciting and significant finds are still possible if you look closely.

For anyone who collects coins or just searches through change: keep looking! You never know what treasures might be hiding in plain sight.