🚨 Record-Breaking Coin Sale (2025): A rare 1776–1976 Bicentennial Kennedy Half Dollar just sold for $1.7 million at Heritage Auctions in Dallas.
The lucky owner? 68-year-old retired teacher Martha Wilkins, who discovered the coin while cashing in a jar of loose change at her local bank in Texas.
Experts were stunned: the coin wasn’t just silver — it was a double-struck Bicentennial error on a 40% silver planchet. Only three are known to exist, making this one of the rarest half dollars in U.S. history. 🦅
🏆 The $1.7 Million Bicentennial Error Breakdown
1️⃣ Double-Struck on Silver Planchet (Only 3 Known)
- ✔ Key Feature: Full design struck twice, visibly offset
- ✔ Silver Weight: 11.5g (normal clad = 11.34g)
- ✔ Auction Record: $1,700,000 (PCGS MS64)
2️⃣ FS-101 “Galactic Doubling” Obverse — $250,000+
- ✔ Look For: Blurred tripling in “IN GOD WE TRUST”
- ✔ Date looks 3D under magnification
- ✔ Only 12 certified by PCGS
3️⃣ “Independence Hall Ghost” Reverse — $150,000+
- ✔ Second “floating” image of Independence Hall
- ✔ Caused by misaligned die strike
🔍 How to Spot a Million-Dollar Bicentennial Half
Step 1: Quick Magnet Test 🧲
- Silver coins (40% silver): won’t stick
- Clad coins (nickel-copper): slight pull
Step 2: Check for Errors
✅ Double-Struck: Overlapping images (tilt in light)
✅ Missing Clad Layer: Copper shows through, weighs less
✅ “Spitting Eagle”: Die crack through eagle’s beak
Step 3: Grade the Condition
- MS63+ or higher needed for six-figure value
- Original red Bicentennial Mint packaging = +50% premium
💵 Updated 2025 Bicentennial Half Dollar Error Value Guide
| Error Type | Circulated | Mint State | Superb Gem (MS67+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double-Struck Silver | $250,000 | $800,000 | $1.7M |
| FS-101 DDO Obverse | $5,000 | $75,000 | $250,000 |
| Ghost Reverse | $1,000 | $25,000 | $150,000 |
| 90% Off-Center Strike | $500 | $15,000 | $85,000 |
🕵️ Where These Coins Hide
- 🏦 Bank teller trays (ask for half dollar rolls)
- 🎰 Casino cashouts (often overlooked)
- 🏠 Estate sales & old collections
- 🍴 Even tip jars — one collector found an $800K error this way!
🚀 What to Do If You Find One
- STOP! Don’t clean the coin ❌ (patina alone may add $500K in value).
- Handle with cotton gloves 🧤.
- Photograph under LED light (10x zoom).
- Submit to PCGS/NGC for emergency grading.
- Auction through Dallas, NYC, or LA for max exposure.
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