1965 SMS question

How were these things packaged? I picked one up today (cheap don't worry) and the half had a very light fingerprint on the reverse, and yes it was on the coin. I thought that the mint, when putting these sets together would take more care than to touch the coins on any part of them but the edges... It is in the cellophane and it is unopened.

 

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The 1965 sets were in cellophane like packages like the mint sets. The 1966 and 1967 SMS were in hard plastic containers.

 

I know that but how were they placed in the cellophane?

 

I assume by the exact same method as mint sets. But I really don't know.

 

Which is what? I'm pretty clueless about these...

 

SMS sets where not handled like proofs, that is why the majority of them have bag marks, weak strikes, etc.
the planchets where not polished, and the dies where more heavily used between cleanings. Its very possible that the coins where handled in packaging... so that could very well be a mint employees fingerprint.

The history of that period is very interesting IMO, coin collectors being blamed for coin shortages, etc. Others have documented it much better than I
Rick Tomaska has some books out about the proof and SMS coins of the 50-70, its an awesome book with tons of information. I purchased a used hard cover copy of the book in GREAT condition for $3 on amazon!

Also; SMS coins with cameo, even DEEP cameo can be found and are VERY rare and VERY expensive

 

http://www.amazon.com/Cameo-Brillia...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238856392&sr=1-2

I lucked out with the cheap copy, but $20 for a good copy is a steal IMO

Even if you don't collect proofs form this era, its a must have book IMHO for the wealth of information and history.
BE WARNED! after reading this book I have gotten the "proof franklin bug", an illness that can thin the wallet, and in extreme cases leave other collections orphaned ;(

 

Thanks! I always thought they were sort of a mixture between business strikes and proofs because the dies were cleaned/polished for SMS coins but the planchets weren't. That being said, I also thought they were struck multiple times like proofs so I was surprised when the Jefferson didn't have full steps.

 

I have already gotten that bug, it's just I don't really have the money for any much earlier than 60. I'm hoping to pick up a 1963 proof set pretty soon (they seem like a good value to me).

 

SMS coins where only struck once, a ton of them look worse than business strikes!
I have seen kennedys that are so mooshey (if that is a word) its hard to believe they where considered special at all

If you want a challenge, but without spending a ton of money i recommend the Kennedy silvers. its a short set, and you can get some very nice coins for not a ton of money. Nice cameo 65 SMS kenedy's can be had for less than $100 certified. I recently picked up the three SMS kennedys for about $30 raw, with slight cameo and really clean surfaces... from ebay no less.

 

Run that fingerprint through AFIS.....this guy's got to be stopped.

 

speaking of sms... here is an everest coin;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=190296202260
i wish i had the funds ;0

 

Man that's a lot o' dough.....

 

I'd be wary of these as many of them have recently been "conserved" prior to their trip to PCGS

 

What kind of problems are common with them that would require being "conserved?"

 

cloudiness, toning, and general mishandling

look at NCS and what they have done with some of these cameo Kennedys

 

regardless of conservation, a heavy cameo sms is rare...

 

my concern is that over the next 15 years that these coins will cloud again, except this time INSIDE the PCGS slab

 

You could be right, in the case of these two though they are in PCGS slabs... if they where NGC it would be more likely they where conserved...

 

I might differ on that opinion.

First, If they are conserved and there is NO evidence of it, PCGS will slab it. (Or NGC for that matter)

Second, If there was evidence of conservation, done by NCS or otherwise, NGC would NOT slab it.

Third, with PCGS changing hands within the past year, I see this change of ownership as something that will, over time, erode the reputation of PCGS in the marketplace and it is only a matter of time before their reputation suffers.

don't buy the slab... even if it says PCGS!