SMS Kennedy Half - MS-66 Cameo Or MS-67 Brilliant?

I would go for the cameo.

If I'm correct only proof coins get cameo designation. Mint state can get a prooflike designation

I can certainly agree with the beauty of Cameos, I am not seeing much difference in between the two coins in the OP, other than the slab label.





I am looking at a few and will report back with my purchase!


Here is what I have so far;


Thanks!

I would go with the brilliant but would look for one that truly shines. This is what the coin was intended to be at this time, with cameos being an artifact associated with very early die state strikes. If you decide to go with a cameo, don't just settle for one that is labeled as such, hold out for one that is undeniably so, as though it was struck with a die that was intended to produce cameo coins. Get one that, like modern ultra cameos, is cameo in any light and doesn't need to be held just right to see it. Personally, I would still prefer one that is just as undeniably fully brilliant, with no signs of frost or toning. I don't think that either one of the coins you show is good enough for either definition, both coins appear to be close to the cutoff between cameo and brilliant and because of that I would keep looking no matter which way you decide to go.

I would tend to pick a cameo over a slightly higher grade normally (especially out of a SMS), but I'm not so sure about this one.

On the Cameo the smudge near the 8 O'clock position bothers me a little whether it is a blemish from handling, or something else. This one also has a small edge corona in several areas that might have been a start of edge oxidation before it was slabbed. Its hard to tell from the photograph, but thats something you see a lot in SMS 40% halves.

If it were me, I would pass on that one and keep looking for a superior cameo while they are still reasonable in price.

I am not seeing the technical difference (that is, why the 67 is a 67, while the 66 is a 66), so I would go with the cameo.

Good point Oih82w8, the last time I priced that high of a grade cameo that was slabbed it seemed a lot more reasonable, but they seem to be up quite a bit now. That said, you should probably get the Cameo of those two, its still an exceptional coin from a SMS set.