1965 SMS vs Business Strike

How can you tell the difference?
This question is a popular one among Kennedy and Jefferson collectors.

After reading many posts and articles about it, I can only come to the conclusion that sometimes you just can't tell the difference, and neither can the TPG's. There are many instances when coins that came straight from a mint bag have been designated as SMS. I haven't been able to find any information regarding die markers or varieties.

Most of the time however, it is fairly easy to tell the difference, although in some cases it really becomes difficult, if not impossible. From what I can gather, many of the SMS dies were subsequently used for business strikes.

What's my point?
Well I came across this 1965 Jefferson nickel I purchased awhile ago. As far as I can remember, it was purchased as a business strike. It does have a PL look to it though.
So is it an actual business strike, or is it an SMS strike? We may never know.
If it is a business strike...it's one heck of a strike for this year.

1965 BS or SMS


Here is a 67 SMS for comparison, if it's even applicable in this case.





1966 Kennedy BS or SMS?


SMS for comparison:

 

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Tough calls, nice pictures

 

medallion tell the story, easy to tell the difference

 

There is why no different ,as all were copied from one master die.
Its the striking that makes the different as dies get worn.
My2c.

 

I don't understand this post at all. What exactly is this supposed to mean??

 

1st Anacs then Ngc and Pcgs noted the grading detail or grade.
Not all SMS coins are graded equity due to strike even if submitted sealed as US mint issued packaged .

Coin lore ? Silver savers were building bags for later $$ per oz was up.
1965-1970 was called a era of coinage shortage due to metal change. My2c
1964-D

 

FWIW, the finishes of '65, '66, and '67 SMS coins progressively became more consistently prooflike. In '65, the "prooflike" and polished finishes were sometimes hardly noticable -- for Lincoln cents at least the only difference I noticed was a slightly smoother and more "glossy" appearance to the fields; especially the obverse since it exhibits bowled/curved fields. This is why D/CAM SMS coins in 1965 are extremely rare and difficult to find. By '67, the SMS coins produced were nearly full-on proofs; thus, the difference between SMS coins and Business strikes were easily noticeable (Please correct me if any of this info is incorrect).

Oh, and beautiful coins as usual, gbroke! Love the cameo appearance of that Kennedy

 

let me show you what I'm talking about, I highlighted the areas that are easy for me to see, obverse only, for now

 

All of these are SMS. I'm more than 98% confident that if I saw them in hand I'd be 100% confident.

Of course, you can NEVER know for sure unless you get them from an original roll and even then it could be a trick.

 

OK, and how does your original garbled nonsensical post of "medallion tell the story, easy to tell the difference" in any way get at the areas you have circled? Your first reply was completely cryptic.

 

Ya know? Brandon, Rick? You guys gotta meet in person and have a few brews.......bourbons better.

 

I don't think you even know that the images on coins are also called medallions, heres a link for you https://www.google.com/search?q=medallion on american coins&client=firefox-a&hs=eCu&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&channel=fflb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=D-SRUsCxH8uzqQGl6ICAAg&ved=0CFQQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=461

 

I think the 66 Half is SMS....

 

had this one at a coin show a couple of weeks ago, showed it to Mr. Potter, and was told could be a sms

 

If it is written on the internet, then it must be correct?

 

'Could be' (almost) only counts in Horseshoes...........

 

The facts do not support this conclusion.

 

and hand grenades too