| Author |
 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,449 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
I recently purchased two SMS sets solely for the half dollars in them. They were only slightly more expensive to purchase the sets that the individual half dollar. However after looking at the sets closer when I got home I began to wonder once the coin was removed from the OGP how would someone recognize the coin as being an SMS designated coin from the regular (Philadelphia minted coin) as there is no mint mark on the coins? Also, would it be better to let the set remain intact, after all we're not talking big money but I was curious. |
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
In most cases you can't. Oh sharp strikes from new dies with PL surfaces can probably be recognized but in my opinion typical SMS coins can't be told form better quality business strikes. Lower end SMS coins probably can't be told from average or slightly better than average business strikes.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
655 Posts |
I agree with Conder. SMS coins are often PL but so are better business strikes so you can't always tell. It's entirely up to you if you want to keep the sets intact. Personally I have SMS nickels broken out of sets included with my collection of older proof Jeffs. They absolutely look just like proofs. I also have intact SMS sets so I have my bases covered.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2270 Posts |
The '66 and '67 SMS's can be opened and reclosed.
Collectors familiar with these coins can differentiate between them in almost every instance. It gets tricky when considering a very high end Unc because they can share many similarities with the SMS coins and especially the 1965's. This isn't to say every high end Unc might be confused for an SMS, just some.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts |
I think it's pretty safe to say that whenever you crack a coin from a mint set, you have a certain degree of uncertainty to deal with. When I make the fateful decision to crack a coin, I do it because I want to... I would never do it with a hope of re-selling.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
561 Posts |
 I have become addicted to breaking the coins free from their prisons but I don't plan on selling them ever so...... |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
1116 Posts |
Thanks for the responses especially Condor101, NJBob and Clad King. The sets that I purchased are from '66 and '67. I'm still planning on breaking out at least the halves but I am still concufsed about the sets themselves.
When they were minted were they from Philadelphia (no mintmark) or were they minted at other locations like Denver or San Francisco? The sets that I have do not have a mint mark and am curious about this.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2270 Posts |
All the coins were made in San Francisco on the old Philly proof presses that were shipped there for that purpose. The dies were used to stike regular issue coins on standard presses after being retired for SMS usage.
For practical purposes they have continuerd to make mint set coins the same way ever since except in most years the dies are not basined. Now mint set coins are made at their respective mints with a mintmark (except the Philly cents).
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
Cladking thanks for the info.
Edited by ghostrider
04/29/2013 9:08 pm
|
|
Valued Member
United States
292 Posts |
OK. What am I mssing? What was the purpose and intent of SMS?
|
|
Moderator
 United States
187862 Posts |
The SMS sets were minted from 1965 to 1967. There were no regular mint sets or proof sets those years. The SMS sets were a hybrid of the two.
|
| |
Replies: 10 / Views: 1,449 |
|
Posted 04/26/2013 10:11 am
