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Message:: [QUOTE="WashQuartJesse, post: 3219351, member: 18323"]What may prove to be the most fulfilling aspect of having a completed series is the ability to review examples as you wish. This evening, I’m considering the 1965-1967 non-SMS coins of this series. As many of you are already aware, the Mint did not produce proof sets during these years but did offer collectors the ability to purchase special mint sets (SMS). While constructing my album, these SMS sets were still readily available and I had the opportunity to select the most quality examples. I can’t recall how many of these SMS sets I disassembled, but there were quite a few! As a collector (and very minor seller at the time), what immediately stood out to me was the relative abundance of SMS sets and coins within the marketplace, but seemingly lack of non-SMS examples. This may be a stretch, but I even felt dealers were actually more inclined to list/sell attractive non-SMS coins as SMS, given the SMS’ comparative exclusivity and lower mintages to the non-SMS coins of these same dates. For instance, anyone completing a Washington proof series would require the SMS example. Any dealer presented with a pleasant 1966, 67, or 68 Washington Quarter outside of SMS packaging, would most likely (and understandably), assume and offer it as an SMS coin. Again, this is my suspicion, but one that I feel may be the case. To most, this matters very little. At the time, a non-SMS coin might have fetched a dollar less or something… Business strike quarters mintage: 1965: 1,819,717,540 1966: 821,101,500 1967: 1,524,031,848 SMS quarters mintage: 1965: 2,360,000 1966: 2,261,583 1967: 1,863,344 The mintage figures obviously suggest that business strike examples were, and may still be, far more available to collectors. However, we have to consider the historical context of these issues and so many other things to really determine true availability. It’s the availability (or lack thereof) of high quality non-SMS uncirculated examples which command my interest. Despite their overwhelming mintage, I believe quality uncirculated non-SMS coins of these dates are worth some consideration. Current TPG value approximations may not exactly encourage submissions, but let’s take a look at PCGS’ population statistics as of this post:            1965  6470   64+1    65168  65+0    66264  66+3     6731    67+7 1966  6437   64+0     6591   65+0    66263  66+2     6759    67+6 1967 6430   64+0    65106  65+0    66413  66+14    6773    67+7 PCGS’ price guide currently lists MS67 examples as follows: 1965 $365 1966 $315 1967 $160 There’s a significant marketplace disparity between PCGS and NGC MS67 examples according to PCGS. Certified NGC MS67 examples have sold for as low as $4 on ebay as recently as this September. Despite this, the only certifiedexample from these dates and this grade, currently for sale on this platform is a 1966 NGC listed with a buy it now of $280. For this particular date, Jamie Hernandez states that: “The 1966 Washington Quarter is very common, especially since over 800 million of them were struck. Examples in circulated grades can still be found in circulation. Even examples in about MS60-MS63 condition can also be found in circulation. In MS64-MS66 condition they are little tougher to find, yet, can be purchased inexpensively. In MS67 condition it is scarce with less than a hundred examples graded by PCGS. In MS67+ condition is extremely scarce with less than handful of examples known and none being finer.” I agree with most of Mr. Hernandez’ observations, save for his belief that “examples in about MS60-MS63 condition can also be found in circulation.” My experiences suggest that I am far more likely to find a silver piece in circulation than any pre ’99 Washington Quarter in uncirculated condition! I also question whether or not because “over 800 million of them were struck,” it necessarily guarantees that this makes them “very common” today? I question how many of these have actually been put aside. CT’s own Robert is one of the only/few I can think of. The abovementioned (higher uncirculated grade) PCGS population statistics suggest that the non-SMS 1965-1967 is extremely uncommon in relation to its original mintage. It was very important for me, as a collector, to be able to distinguish/identify non-SMS coins to SMS coins. Much has been discussed on this forum on the inability or ability to do so. I vaguely recall, strongly suggesting that it was possible, yet far more accomplished collectors often felt otherwise. As far as I know, this remains an open debate. What I can say, is that I took every possible measure to ensure that my non-SMS coins were, exactly that. Q. David Bowers states in A Guide Book of Washington and State Quarters that “unless Special Mint Set coins have cameo contrast and are prooflike, they can be indistinguishable from regular issues” (they, being 65-67). He also states that “Denver quarters bore no mintmark in 1965 and thus appeared identical to Philadelphia coins.” Does anyone know whether or not Denver also produced any 1966 or 67 business strikes? With a mintage of 1,819,717,540 1965 business strike coins, are we now able to differentiate the P’s vs. D’s? Will they remain indistinguishable? <a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/c13e2fb1-6736-465e-a2a0-be5b30bd3867" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/c13e2fb1-6736-465e-a2a0-be5b30bd3867" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/c13e2fb1-6736-465e-a2a0-be5b30bd3867-original.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a>[/QUOTE]

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