(1965) Half Dollar Pattern - RB-4525, INCO

Coin Details

Description

The final entry in the 1965 INCO experimental clad half dollar series, RB-4525 closes the half dollar testing program that began with RB-4500. As the last composition variant tested at the half dollar scale, this piece represents either the most refined alloy in the sequence or a boundary-condition formulation included to define the outer limits of acceptable performance for the denomination. The entire RB-4500 half dollar series, spanning just six compositions from RB-4500 to RB-4525, is considerably more compact than the quarter series (which extends from RB-4100 to RB-4165), reflecting the lower priority assigned to half dollar clad testing given that the denomination would retain silver content until 1971. Nevertheless, the data gathered from these six half dollar experiments proved forward-looking: when Congress finally authorized the removal of silver from the half dollar in the Coinage Act of 1970, the Mint was able to draw upon the 1965 experimental results to implement the change with minimal additional testing. RB-4525 was struck on Kennedy half dollar dies at the Medallic Art Company, producing the final piece in a small but historically significant testing series.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8. Extremely rare. As the final entry in the RB-4500 half dollar series, this may be among the scarcest of the 1965 INCO half dollar experiments.

Cross References

Research Blank RB-4525 (Gould/INCO experimental series)