For the past two months, I have been trying to put together UNC sets of halves, quarters, dimes, nickels, and cents. I started with my local coin shop looking through all their 2x2 boxes. This was great for all the pre 1964 coins, but for everything after 64, all the coins nearly look the same. After a few hours I started going cross-eyed. So I thought, I would make this easy - I would just by mint sets and break them apart. Now, I have looked for the best sets to buy and the ones that are really bad, I passed on. I am more interested in the coins being in the best uncirculated condition that are available rather than holding out for that MS65+ coin. These are just going in my books and not being slabbed. My question is this - when putting together an UNC set, would the coins in the 1965, 66 and 67 special mint sets be appropriate to add to a collection. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe these were minted differently than the regular coins for circulation. So would I have to go back to the shop and find "true" UNC coins or will the coins in these sets count? Kinda crazy question - but I never said I was sane - just well medicated! :kewl:
The 1965, 1966 and 1967 SMS Cents are listed under normal Strike Cents and I believe that they are needed for a PCGS Regisrty Set but I could be wrong! Frank
As a rule proof collectors consider these unc and unc collectors consider them to be proofs. They never got any respect until recent years. They are for most intents and purposes proofs (so you know I'm an unc collector.), because they come from specially prepared dies. But they are struck only once so they are technically uncs. They really have more in common with the later mint set uncs than the earlier proofs though. Quality for normal specimens ranges from nice lustrous and well struck unc to virtually proof in appearance. There are also a few which might be technically proofs. A lot of collectors solve the problem now days by including both. Finding a nice attractive '66 not from a set is a little difficult.
