I'm curious because I have a handfull that I *think* might grade MS65. My thought is to submit 5 to NGC, if they grade 65 or higher, I might sell, if they come back 64 or lower, I'd keep them as a side project I've started...more on that potentially later. Here is why I'm asking. SMS strikes were the answer from the mint for a collector coin when proofs weren't minted in 65-67. As such, and as many sources indicate, the sms coins, if not cameo, can be indistinguishable from an unc business strike coin from the same year. The coins I have, while I'm confident that they are indeed SMS strike coins, aren't in any official mint packaging. That being the case will a TPGs disqualify them as an SMS strike because there is no evidence of them being authentic SMS strikes, and grade them as only UNC business strike coins?
Never submitted but have a few slabbed SMS pennies - I don't know about the other coin surfaces but the SMS mint set pennies look damn near proof compare to business strike.
Never submitted but have a few slabbed SMS pennies - I don't know about the other coin surfaces but the SMS mint set pennies look damn near proof compare to business strike.
Here's the 1966 SMS 1 cent - NGC MS66. Looks better in hand than the pictures show but much better than a business strike but not as good as proof surfaces:
@Markus1959 that's why I'm certain the coins I have are SMS. I have cent, nickels, dimes and quarters and they are very proof like on the surfaces, but no cameo. All look better than a business strike for sure. @ToughCOINS thanks for digging that up, still sounds like it's a crap shoot as far as how the TPGs will grade.
Sent in a 1965 quarter I thought was a business strike once...came back as an SMS. So apparently they had some way to tell the difference...
They are fairly easy to distinguish apart. SMS coins have more of a mirror like finish. Not quite as strong as proofs, but quite different from MS examples.
@robec agreed, my question is more about the TPGs grading an SMS coin as MS because of it not being in OGP...Looks like stldanceartist has given me on example that the opposite has happened. @stldanceartist which TPG?
On 1965 – 1967 coinage, the business strike in high grade command a higher price then the SMS issued coins. For this reason, especially considering the buy back guarantee, I believe the third party grading companies default to the SMS listing if there is any doubt.
It was NGC. LCS sold me the quarter as a business strike (this was years and years ago) and I thought it had a chance at a higher grade (worth it for the BS, not worth it for the SMS) so I sent it in. Came back as SMS. Sent no OGP with it.
