My OCD is kicking in while on my quest to catalog all my coins on a spreadsheet (one of the columns on the spreadsheet is "Mint Location"). I purchased several SMS coins (1965-1967) individually. I was under the impression that these coins were minted in Philadelphia since there is no mint mark on them. However I am reading conflicting articles on the internet that these were made in San Francisco without mint marks. So, where were they minted?
Thank you, did not know that. You in particular must appreciate the fact that they "have endeavored to minimize scratches and discoloration"!
It's also in the Red Book. If you don't own one, it's a inexpensive investment for a wealth of information. If you want to save even more money, buy the 2013 edition. Not much has changed and the pricing in the book is rather meaningless anyway.
I purchased the 2014 Red Book last week. I didn't see any mention of SMS coins being minted in San Francisco (without mint marks). I checked in "Proof and Mint Sets" section. I also checked each coin denomination's page. They have all '65-'67 coins being minted in Philadelphia. That is not correct. Maybe I'm missing something??
Yep, I understand. There is no definitive verbiage that says "these coins had no mint marks". You'd have to assume. The page that lists the actual mintages do not list any mint locations either, so you'd have to deduce that they were all minted in SF.
Exactly. I guess Red Book lists coins by year mainly and doesn't bother to distinguish different mint locations if the coins don't have mint marks. In this case San Francisco (SMS) mintage numbers get lumped in with Philadelphia (or being excluded altogether). It's also possible that mintage figures are unknown, but Red Book usually puts an asterisk to indicate this. Overall it's a very unusual scenario, but I'm a little surprised that Red Book doesn't make any note of it.
San Francisco also minted all denominations for circulation in 1965 - '67. Many of these were minted with retired SMS dies.
"My OCD's conking me in the head Keep knocking, nobody's home, I'm sleepwalking" -- Eminem Wonder if Eminem collects coins? BTW: It would have been cool if the SMS coins had an S mint mark. TC
No, Lee, all SMS production was done at the San Francisco Assay Office. Regular coin production took place at all three locations, SF, Philly and Denver, but the SMS production was limited to SF only.
they're known, just not printed in the Red Book. they are, however, printed in the Coin World Almanac (Eighth Edition 2011) 1965 cents (P) 301,470,000 (D) 973,364,900 (S) 220,030,000 nickels (P) 12,440,000 (D) 82,291,380 (S) 39,040,000 dimes (P) 845,130,000 (D) 757,472,820 (S) 47,177,750 quarters (P) 1,082,216,000 (D) 673,305,540 (S) 61,836,000 half dollars (P) 0 (D) 63,049,366 (S) 470,000 1966 cents (P) 811,100,000 (D) 991,431,200 (S) 383,355,000 nickels (P) 0 (D) 103,546,700 (S) 50,400,000 dimes (P) 622,550,000 (D) 683,771,010 (S) 74,151,947 quarters (P) 404,416,000 (D) 367,490,400 (S) 46,933,517 half dollars (P) 0 (D) 106,439,312 (S) 284,037 1967 cents (P) 907,575,000 (D) 1,327,377,100 (S) 813,715,000 nickels (P) 0 (D) 75,993,800 (S) 31,332,000 dimes (P) 1,030,110,000 (D) 1,156,277,320 (S) 57,620,000 quarters (P) 873,524,000 (D) 632,767,848 (S) 17,740,000 half dollars (P) 0 (D) 293,183,634 (S) 0 these are for circulation strike coins and don't include the coins struck for Special Mint Sets
I meant SMS mintage might be unknown. I figured total mintage was known/recorded. Now that you post the Coin World Almanac mintage figures, I notice that the total mintage reported on Red Book is slightly higher. Could the difference be SMS?
1967 SMS * (special mint set) 1,863,345 1966 SMS * (special mint set) 2,261,583 1965 SMS * (special mint set) 2,360,000
I like them also. They're quite unique in that they are not quite like proofs or business strike. Especially 1965. That year appears a bit like satin but not quite that either. They are just different and nice, in my opinion.
I carefully inspect every single set I run into. You never know what you're going to find. The only thing I hate is the fresh ones are hard as hell to open and close-up without ripping the box. LOL
That is the difference between aforementioned Red Book and Coin World Almanac figures. Are these the official recorded figures or did you get them by subtracting the aforementioned figures?