Special Strike 1967 in MS Condition?

I just recently got into coin collecting during the start of the quarantine, and in my first box of cents, I found this, which I assumed to be a proof. From later research, I believe that this is a Special Mint Set Prooflike cent in uncirculated condition. Since I have few uncirculated coins and limited experience, any help verifying this coin and ideas of what grade you would give it would be appreciated. I was also wondering what exactly the cameo designation for proof coins means and if this coin would fall into this category (I don't think it does, but IDK). Thanks (Btw, the picture came out a little yellow)

 

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First, welcome to CoinTalk and the rabbit hole known as numismatics!

I am not a cent guy, so I won't give a dependable opinion on grade, but I can help with the other questions.

First, you'll learn that everyone will want a photo of the obverse and reverse, and we are (mostly) crotchety old folks that don't like to click on things to see them, so we like closely cropped full sized images like this:


Coin photography is another rabbit hole you can disappear into, and in all honesty, your image is great for a first timer! Kudos!

Your coin is not a proof. First giveaway is that the rims are not even all the way around, nor are they squared off. So there's that. It is a nice coin though, but like I said, I know little about grading LMC's (Lincoln Memorial Cents).

Cameo is a term given to a coin where the devices (Lincoln's profile, text, etc.), have a frosted, or matte-like surface/appearance, and the fields are mirror-like. I don't have images of any, but this should give you an idea:

 

There were no proof cents made in 1967. The original poster is correct. It looks like a SMS Coin.

 

First time I've heard any of you admit to being crotchety. Haha. But mostly very patient with newcomers.

Btw welcome to coin talk Brennan.

 

My brain saw this -

And I don't think it's an SMS, but I could be wrong.

 

Welcome to CT! It’s not a proof. Can you post a full picture of the obverse and reverse straight above? That will help you and everyone else here help you with your questions. Nice find BTW!

 

From what I see it is most likely an SMS coin.

 

@Conder101 - Even with those very uneven rims?

 

From what I've seen of SMS examples, prooflike rims aren't the qualifier. Plenty of the die pairs were slightly MAD obverse.

on proof you would want to see it nice and centered,
but this wasn't the case for all die pairs used to strike SMS.

All the 1967 SMS cents I've seen have a high detailed appearance, like the fields are "bowled", it's just heavily struck, while the business strikes were "flat" in appearance.

The angle is wrong on this picture to tell if there is depth to the fields around lincoln, perhaps a straight on picture will help to get a feel for the depth of the strike.


A 1967 SMS Lincoln Cent, Image PCGS Coinfacts

A 1967 Lincoln Cent business Strike, Image USA Coin Book

I would have removed their links if I could on these images, the sites are fine of course, but I didn't have the ability to remove the hyperlinks attached to these images.

 

Even SMS coins can have slight mis-aligned dies.