. Can someone please tell me the difference?
Posted 05/23/2008 12:16 pm
Generally speaking you can't really tell if a coin is SMS or not. With almost all of the SMS coins you can guess right and with most of the regular issues you can guess right. With some of the SMS coins there is really virtually no doubt. The finest SMS coins are nearly indistinguishable from proofs and can even be heavily frosted. A few could be actual proofs.
A lot of factors complicate the determination. Some circulation issues are exceedingly well made and a few SMS coins are not. SMS dies were retired and used to strike regular issue coins in San Francisco. Since some of these dies were basined these coins can appear to be very much like SMS's.
If you look at a lot of these you can learn to spot the telltale signs and your guess will be right well over 99% of the time. It's really the same with all the modern mint set coins but your accuracy rate won't be as high since dies aren't polished.
A lot of factors complicate the determination. Some circulation issues are exceedingly well made and a few SMS coins are not. SMS dies were retired and used to strike regular issue coins in San Francisco. Since some of these dies were basined these coins can appear to be very much like SMS's.
If you look at a lot of these you can learn to spot the telltale signs and your guess will be right well over 99% of the time. It's really the same with all the modern mint set coins but your accuracy rate won't be as high since dies aren't polished.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
