1964 Set - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 12 / Views: 3,039
Hflirn Pillar of the Community United States 586 Posts	Posted 05/22/2015 08:48 am I gathered these, over a few days, and would like an opinion on whether they are from a mint set, business strikes, or, due to the sharp rims, an sms coin. The nickel I separated and put along side another well struck 64' for comparison. I've been trying to hunt and buy 64's that I thought might have a running chance of being an SMS for a looooooong time so any feedback, whether good or bad, would be much appreciated. The penny doesn't seem to have as much of a typical proof edge as I would expect from other sms coins. There is a line that goes along the rim starting at U on United which looked familiar to some 64 SMS lincoln pics I looked at so I thought I'd include it. Report this Post to the Staff

Hflirn Pillar of the Community United States 586 Posts	Posted 05/22/2015 12:30 pm Some of the pics I took were sub par, I thought, so I decided to add a pic of the dime w/o my flash going off and attempt a pic on the nickel with more light. Not professional by any means but it's the thought that counts right? Haha Report this Post to the Staff
GR58 Bedrock of the Community United States 11951 Posts	Posted 05/22/2015 1:15 pm Seems like we have questions about 1964 SMS come up, every so often. I read a couple articles to see if I could get some more information. One stated that 1964 SMS coins are extremely rare. PCGS has graded (2008) 22 cents 18 nickels 22 dimes 28 half dollars The article also state that when mint director Eva Adams passed on, most if not all the known set were in her estate. I would think it hard to tell the difference between a well struck good luster coin and a SMS. If I had them right next to each other, I like to think I could. I also would wonder, what type of holder the 1964 the SMS came in. To me I don't think would be the same as the regular mint sets. And if I had coins I thought might be SMS, I would do research to see which mint would have made them. My guess would be just the Philidelphia mint. And they might have been packaged like the 1965 set. If it helps the op here is a picture of one I found online Report this Post to the Staff
Hflirn Pillar of the Community United States 586 Posts	Posted 05/22/2015 2:18 pm Hey thanks for the pic! I feel there isn't a lot known about the SMS sets. I heard once that they were sold in plain plastic set holders. I am not sure if this is true. It appears that the sets were broken down and sold individually afterwards at some point. The 64 SMS Half Dollar seems to be the only coin that I feel is more coin hunter friendly, due to the fact that there are some possible die markers to look for. Still a gigantic task to hunt and actually find one lol! Sometimes, I make up ridiculous theories on what went on in 64'. For instance, The San Francisco Mint made the SMS coins in San Francisco starting in 65. However, I may have heard that they used the facilities in Denver for proof(like) coinage a few months before 1965. Now I am not an expert so take everything I say as a grain of salt but I believed that if San Francisco was using the Denver Mint during this trivial time what would the odds of some coins with similar SMS characteristics from Denver getting out be? I thought this coin met some of the die characteristics I believed were on the 64 SMS. However, I have been wrong before and this theory is what people would refer to as a Hail Mary lol! I definitely don't want to confuse people so please understand that I am merely throwing a wrench in the gears for amusement, thought, and debate Report this Post to the Staff
Hflirn Pillar of the Community United States 586 Posts	Posted 05/22/2015 3:27 pm Oh last thing. I don't want it to seem like I am talking just to talk but I wanted to point out some areas of possible interest on the Denver Half. If you look at the I in Liberty, look and see if you notice a bottom left serif. Only proofs will have one which is good to know. On the Reverse the SMS dies used a non proof die I believe. The broken rays are hard to see with the chaos my flash created but you should be able to make out a straight G in the initials, which is not fitting for the obverse die but is fitting for the die combo on the SMS coins. Again, not saying I'm right I just wanted to explain my thought process Report this Post to the Staff
edweather Pillar of the Community United States 7375 Posts	Posted 05/22/2015 4:04 pm Well, now you've gotten me interested in 1964 SMSs. Just what I need, one more thing to obsess about Report this Post to the Staff
Hflirn Pillar of the Community United States 586 Posts	Posted 05/22/2015 4:37 pm Haha my pleasure! It's a nice series to check on and I also enjoyed reading about the history of numismatics during that time. The good and the controversial lol! I will say 65-67 sms coins are relatively cheap and a good way to get familiar with the unique characteristics. There are apparently some with a cameo effect but I have yet to see one in person Report this Post to the Staff
GR58 Bedrock of the Community United States 11951 Posts	Posted 05/22/2015 10:50 pm You seem to have done some good research on these coins. I just gave Breen a quick check, but did not have much or any information for 1964 SMS. It would be nice to find one of these sets. Maybe if you get to one of the larger coin shows, you could show the coins to the PCGS or NGC table, see if they could give you some information .. before submitting a coin. Report this Post to the Staff
Hflirn Pillar of the Community United States 586 Posts	Posted 05/22/2015 11:05 pm Sure I'll be in Long Beach June 4,5,and 6th checking out the Expo so if they will be there I'll swing by! Report this Post to the Staff
GR58 Bedrock of the Community United States 11951 Posts	Posted 05/23/2015 12:48 am let us know how it turns out Report this Post to the Staff
Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 05/23/2015 09:25 am Quote: I also would wonder, what type of holder the 1964 the SMS came in. They did't. Although some people talk about 1964 SMS coins they were apparently special test striking and they were just loose coins. They were never put together into any kind of an official "set". There are a few "sets" today but they were assembled from individual coins, a put together "set". The problem is they are refered to a SMS "Special Mint Set" coins when a better term would be Specimen coins. Report this Post to the Staff
Cascade Pillar of the Community United States 7390 Posts	Posted 05/23/2015 10:36 am I had to look up what sms was. Seems very confusing Hflirn, I believe pcgs OWNS the long Beach show so yes they will be there Report this Post to the Staff
Hflirn Pillar of the Community United States 586 Posts	Posted 05/23/2015 10:40 am I could see how that might be the case. I've heard mixed reviews on the condition of the 64 SMS coinage. From flawless to possible production or specimen coinage with bag marks. I think the theory of them being in sets probably came from people who took into fact that there were flawless or near flawless coins known. Of course that doesn't mean it is so, in my opinion. I do believe that they were specimen coins and some would say have slightly different characteristics than the SMS coins of the years that followed. Report this Post to the Staff
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