paper money and bullion

 ACCENTED HAIR ---------------------------------------------------------- NON-ACCENTED HAIR

The Accented Hair variety of the Kennedy Half Dollar was the first obverse die used to produce the proof coins in 1964. So, of course, it exists only in proof and only for the year 1964. Approximately 1% to 3% of the production of 1964 proof Kennedy halves are the first obverse die, or the Accented Hair variety. The most frequently mentioned diagnostic is the extra strands of hair above the ear that form what appears to be a wishbone shape. On the Accented Hair, there is an extra long strand to the left with a shorter strand running parallel to the right of it about 50% of the length of the long strand. To the right of the ear is a heavier cluster of strands that doesn't exist on the regular coin. This is what forms the "wishbone". The other obverse diagnostic is that the lower left serif of the "I" in Liberty will be truncated or shortened when compared to the second obverse die (regular Kennedy).