Hi guys, So I am slowly going through the coins I inherited when my father passed away and came across this beautiful coin but need some advice. How can one tell the difference between a proof coin and a SMS coin? This coin was in a plastic sleeve with another coin - a 1964 dime that has the same appearance. Should I have this coin graded? I'm trying to take better pictures but I am just horrible at it!
The images make it look like a really nice business strike. Can't tell anything from the reverse image. Too dark.
If a regular business strike, not worth getting graded. Does anyone have an idea what it going on just inside the rim, around 4 o'clock? It looks like edge reeding, but not really from another coin striking it, I could be mistaken, or just seeing things, lol.
This does appear reflective, could be a proof. The marking at 4 o'clock could have happened if the sealing machine from the original packaging got too close to the coin. I have some mint set and proof set coins (cents mostly) that have rims punctuated by this kind of issue.
Thanks for the reply Idhair! Here is another picture of the reverse. I am still pretty new at this so I'm not sure what a business strike is but I'm going to research it!
Business strikes are what we get in change. They were made to circulate. Your coin is in really great condition based only on the obverse image.
read this ... also the rims are much more square (I didn't read that in the article) http://www.lincolncentresource.com/Proofs.html
I vote 1964 business strike with Type B reverse (struck with reverse proof dies). The obverse of your coin does not have a proof appearance (it looks like a business strike). Business strikes (or those meant to spent in circulation) have a graininess in the fields (like yours) versus mirror fields of the proof coins. The reverse of your coin has a space between the E and S in states. If you look at any silver quarter (32-64), (that is a business strike not a proof) the E and S are practically touching on business strikes. And the boldness of the leaves above the LL in dollar on your coin indicate proof die characteristics (the leaves above LL on business strikes are very faint). I looked at PCGS coin facts at the SMS 1964 and it has a type 1 or business strike reverse (with the close E and S i described above). That rules out SMS I think. Anywho... thats my vote. Nice Coin. If you Ebay the type B 1964 you will see that they are selling quite cheaply compared to the prices listed in coin price guides.... But thats just the way I see it!!