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 Replies: 16 / Views: 3,757 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1191 Posts |
I upgraded from a Whitman album to a dansco and it has holes for 'SMS' coins. What exactly are they and how do they look compared to the not 'SMS' ones? Didn't know they invented the SMS messages then  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
The mint did not make proof sets from 1965-1967 . from 65-67 they put out SPECIAL MINT SETS (SMS) ,in place of proof sets .the cent to half had no MM. they were of a high quality strike, again they were not proof and not uncirculated. the half dollar was 40% Silver. and IMHO are very under rated in value. in 1968 the made an uncirculated mint set. no SMS's
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1191 Posts |
So the SMS has a similar mirror look to them as a proof does? And  |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12829 Posts |
From the CCF Glossary:Quote:Special Mint SetA set of special coins-neither business strikes nor Proofs-first struck in limited quantities in 1965 and officially released in 1966-1967- to replace Proof sets, which were discontinued as part of the U.S. Mint's efforts to stop coin hoarding. The quality of many of the 1965 coins was not much better than that of business strikes-but by 1967, some Special Mint Set (SMS) coins resembled Proofs. In fact, the government admitted as much when it revealed how the 1967 issues were struck. In 1968, Proof coinage resume. There have been similar issues since; the 1994 and 1997 Matte-finish Jefferson nickels, for example, are frosted SMS-type coins. There also are a few known 1964 SMS coins, these likely struck as tests in late 1964 for the new 1965 SMS strikings. If I had any SMS sets, I'd get some pics up for you. I bet GR58 has a few to post.  Edited by CelticKnot
02/01/2016 10:54 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5208 Posts |
Quote:
The mint did not make proof sets from 1965- 1970 . from 65-69 they put out SPECIAL MINT SETS (SMS) ,in place of proof sets There were 1968S and 1969S and 1970S proof sets. However the mint also produced 1968-1970 mint sets in which the circulation strike cents and nickels also bore an S mintmark. Edited by jack jeckel
02/01/2016 11:08 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Thanks for the intro CelticKnot. I am not at home, but I pulled some off the shelf, at the LCS, and tried to take pictures with my IPad. To me SMS set are not quite proofs ... But very close. And if the coins are first off a new die .. Can be cameo.    Edited by GR58
02/02/2016 1:38 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
As you can see above, the 1965 came in a flat cello package.
The 1966 and 1967 came in a sort of Whitman year set
plastic case.
There is also ...suppose to be .... Very rare 1964 SMS sets.
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Moderator
 United States
188440 Posts |
Very nice OGP examples!  It is nice to see all three of them together in one shot. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Quote:
There were 1968S and 1969S and 1970S proof sets.
Sorry ,my mistake. that's what I get for trying to remember it blind without looking it up.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1191 Posts |
Thank you for the pictures, they really helped!
Is there a way to tell a SMS from a business strike from circulation finds?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2271 Posts |
Circulation half dollar issues in '65 to '67 were all struck at the Denver or San Francisco mint without a mint mark. Many of the San Francisco issues are believed to be struck from retired SMS dies. The presses and equipment to produce proof sets were shipped to San Francisco in late-'65 and then they were used to strike SMS coins. Various processes were used at every stage of production so there is great variability between SMS coins. Most of the dies were basined and many were sandblasted. The end result is that most SMS coins are essentially proofs that were struck one time. Incintally there appear to be a handfull that were struck twice so are technically proofs but none of these, to my knowledge, are frosted. This is a subject for another time. Regular issue coins were made to a reasonably good standard unlike the cu./ ni clad for these years. Dies were removed when they began getting old and the 80% silver surfaces took a strike well without wearing the dies excessively. These infrequently come in Gem condition but will usually be confused for SMS when they do. Look for the brilliant luster of circulation issues with a nice solid strike and minimum of marking and it should fit in any set. Be wary of paying large premiums for these issues since they can be confused with SMS unless they are pretty obviously not SMS. If you don't know the SMS look just stay away from large premiums for them. Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
FYI
When I was doing my Kennedy set, I would research what I
could buy Proof, SMS or BU coins for. Sometimes it was
cheaper to buy the whole set instead of the single coin.
Factoring in the face value of the other coins in the sets.
Edit .. when I say whole set .. I am meaning a SMS set or
proof set .. mint set .. etc.
Edited by GR58
02/02/2016 4:29 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1191 Posts |
Isn't buying a complete set ruins the whole point of collecting?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Not sure if we are thinking the same thing.
What I am suggesting, for example.
A dealer might charge you $10.00 for a nice
1965 SMS half dollar.
But there is a chance you could cherry pick a
stack of 1965 SMS sets. Pick one with a nice
half dollar. Then break it out of the set
for you album/folder.
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Of course if you are meaning you are hoping to get
a nice SMS from roll searching, that would be different.
One .. might be hard to tell a SMS from a really nice
BU mint state coin. Two .. the chances of finding a true
SMS in the wild, would be slim. It would be like trying
to find all the proofs and they be in top shape. You might
find some proofs and most times they get dinged up pretty
easy.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1191 Posts |
Thought you meant a complete album  What is their usual price range? |
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Moderator
United States
188440 Posts |
Individual proof and SMS coins are typically more expensive than they are in the original OGP set. Buying individual coins means paying for the price of convenience; that of not having to deal with the unwanted coins if you are only collecting one or some of the denominations (like half dollars, for example).
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Replies: 16 / Views: 3,757 |
Posted 02/01/2016 10:39 pm
