Not sure if I have anything here or not, but when I was going through some coins to put on the Bay I noticed that this 1965 half had mirror-like fields but no cameo effect. I know the SMS coins can come in cameo and ultra-cameo, but how about mirror-like fields? How can I tell if it came from an SMS set? The Redbook isn't much help at all...
Don't know too much about Kennedys , my guess is it may just be a PL early die run piece . Still a nice coin . rzage
Nice looking coin. Whenever I find a light box I can make I will photo some other clad years that have a finish like that. Years that did not have mint sets but must have had some nice early business strikes. 0CD
I hear that... I've owned a few SMS in the past, and they definately looked more like business strikes then proofs. It's also funny how the Redbook doesn't even list a proof for 1965 and they don't even mention the SMS either. So there's no definitive way to tell if a coin is from an SMS? I'm just wondering how common something like this is, and if it's worth taking extra, extra special care of.
There are no Proofs for '65, '66 or '67 - in any denomiantion. There were business strikes and SMS sets and that's it. Now, as to how to tell, on some examples it is easy and on other examples it is not easy. Even the foremost experts had trouble telling an SMS coin from a business strike. There have been many arguments among the pros over this point. PCGS has even slabbed some as SMS that were later proved not to be SMS at all. So to ask us here to identify the coin based on pics - is an effort in futility.
PL's & Cameo What look for in the SMS years are Cameo. they are rare but not to hard to spot here a 1967 that MS-66 Cameo
Thanks for the input, folks. As I said before, there's no cameo (well, unless you angle it just right like the reverse in the pics) but it's the only non-proof Kennedy I have that has mirror fields. Hmmm... What to do, what to do...
It's a SMS coin very easy to tell look at the rim, It's a SMS coin very easy to tell look at the rim, it is flat and has knife like edge - business strike coins do not have that.
While I agree that it is an SMS coin in this case...not all the SMS coins have definitive diagnostics to tell. When the dies had worn a bit it becomes very hard to tell a SMS from a business strike.
I have never experienced any trouble at all. I have never experienced any trouble at all. I agree it may be difficult for some when SMS dies get a little worn and business strikes are strong but after a few years and seeing a few thousand SMS coins I have never had trouble telling the difference with it at all.
The Redbook does list the Special Mint Sets just after the mint sets. If you are looking at the 2009 edition, it's on page 335. Don't believe the pricing though, you'd be really lucky to find someone to pay that much!
