Any Sure-Fire Way To Tell Mid-60's SMS Apart From High Grade Business?

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Author	Replies: 4 / Views: 794
Kawliga Valued Member United States 212 Posts	Posted 03/05/2020 12:48 pm I tried looking at photos on the PCGS site, first looking at some SMS's and thought 'Okay, so basically the devices are nicely detailed and frosty like a proof, but the fields are more mottled like a business strike (not mirror-like).' But then I looked at their photos of high-grade business strikes for the same years, and some of them looked even more like proofs than the featured SMS's. It seems like something that maybe can't be captured on photos, which is why I'm holding back from posting any of the coins in question that I can't remember where/when/how/ in what kind of container I bought them. So my question is, are there any DESIGN differences one could use as the telltale indicator, such as letter spacing, absence or presence of some bust feature, etc.? Report this Post to the Staff

coop Bedrock of the Community United States 62064 Posts	Posted 03/05/2020 12:56 pm Here is a SBS that might help: Note the BS coin shows a single strike. The one below it the proof is a double strike coin. The accented proof show more strength of strike and the hair is accented. The lower right is the SMS example. They are not as shiny as a proof half dollar, but more of the look like a matte finish. Hope this helps, but I'll have to make a set of the 1965 SMS and BS sometime in the future. Edited by coop 03/05/2020 1:04 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Kawliga Valued Member United States 212 Posts	Posted 03/05/2020 2:36 pm That is awesome, thank you! Unfortunately....what I have is a dime and a penny, both 1965 but I don't think I acquired them together so if they're sms I didn't get them in a set. I'll go ahead and upload the pics. Just a sec. Report this Post to the Staff
CoinCollector2012 Pillar of the Community United States 8137 Posts	Posted 03/05/2020 2:36 pm I usually look for mirrored fields, but it can be tricky sometimes. I would suggest looking at as many SMS and business strikes as you can, and you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. You could also buy an SMS set for reference since they're very affordable. Report this Post to the Staff
Kawliga Valued Member United States 212 Posts	Posted 03/05/2020 2:49 pm Well like I said I suspect it may not be possible to tell the textures from photos but I did the best I could to capture them truthfully. Obviously the penny isn't in the best shape. Report this Post to the Staff
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