Lets Revisit SMS

HI Wrongalot,

I 'll try and give you a hand here. I happened upon this auction :

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_ite...=5550&src=pr

There is a little information there, at least about this particular coin. I guess from the statement that there are 15-25 known would indicate that these are very rare indeed. I have heard before about possible "experimental strikes" in 1964 of the new SMS dies, but don't know where ,and can't remember much about it right now. I will keep searching for information since I am interested in this also. Hope that helps a little anyway .

The problem is that there IS no way to conclusively tell if a coin is a SMS coin or just a business strike unless it is still in a sealed government issued holder. Once they are out of the holders (and the 1964 coins were never in a holder.) then it is all a matter of opinion. The only difference that anyone has ever been able to really say is "They look better than a regular business strike but not as nice as a proof." Very vague. And pretty much the only opinion that matters is that of PCGS or NGC. And if you submit the same coin multiple times the SMS/business strike designation comes and goes. So they only real answer is that in the eyes of the marketplace, it is only an SMS if PCGS or NGC says it is.