Half Question

What is the difference between the normal and the "SMS" halves in 1965, 1967, and 1967?

The redbook only lists: 1965, 1966, and 1967 but the Dansco album shows 1965, 1965 SMS, and so on...


So what are the SMS coins and how do I tell?

Thanks,

Erin

 

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Erin:
The SMS were 'special' coins for 1965, 1966 & 1967 when they did not make proof sets, but issued special mint sets.

Some of them are pretty nice, but certainly not the way that proofs look.

They (at the time) were thought to be just regular circulation coins, but we know now that they (the mint) supposedly made them 'nicer' than regular coins.

 

The normal proofs were made on proof planchets and the SMS were on proof like planchets. More likely burnished planchets made as close to proof as possible.

 

Difference?

Any thoughts on how I can tell if any of the ones I have are "SMS" or even if I go to a shop to get one?

Thanks,

Erin

 

Good thought

Thats a good question that I was wondering about myself, short of just getting them still in the mint wrappers and comparing.

 

Here's a good read for you.......

http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=9469

 

Thanks for the article! I found a bag of 40% halves at my bank and some of them were just beautiful. I mean they looked like they could have been proofs. I gave some of them away to family (who are not collectors) and they all said how pretty the coins were. I kept a roll of each year (I tried to pick the best out of the lot) and I plan on selling the rest of the bag.

 

Article

Thanks for the article, I guess that means I will never be able to tell the differnce or find/buy any of them for the Dansco...alas.

Erin

 

In 1965 things were pretty crazy at the Mint. The Mint and Congress blamed the current coin shortage on coin collectors and speculators. To meet demand the Mint was still cranking out billions and billions of coins dated 1964 all through 1965 and well into 1966. Silver coinage was ending and clad coinage was beginning. Mintmarks were removed from coins.

About the last concern of the Mint was making coins for collectors. No Proof Sets or Mint Sets would be made during the years 1965 -1967 but, to placate collectors, Special Mint Sets (SMS) were issued. Special Mint Set coins fall somewhere between Proof coins and Business Strike coins.

Proof coins are typically struck multiple times at higher than normal pressure (to bring up the details of the coin). The dies are highly polished and are polished again after every few strikes (perhaps 15 to 20 strikes). The planchets are also polished.

Business Strike coins are struck once at normal pressure by dies that are not highly polished like the dies used to strike Proof Coins. The planchets also receive no special attention.

Special Mint Set coins were struck on unpolished planchets (like business strike coins) using polished dies (like Proof Coins). Like business strike coins the SMS coins were received only one strike but, like Proof Coins, they were struck at a higher pressure (but not as high as Proof Coins). The result was a proof-like coin with shiny fields and better details than a business strike coin but less than a Proof Coin.

 

Not so! The 65-67 SMS sets are readily available in the marketplace, and the prices aren't too bad.

Chris

 

as hard as that is to explain with all the details you did a very good job.:thumb:

 

The SMS are in OGP, Original Government Packaging, for only 1965, 1966, and 1967.

 

Correct.

I went to the coin show here I posted about, picked up all 3 SMS in OGP $6 each.

 

Did you check the '66 for the DDO's FS-102, 103 & 104 and the FS-901 Missing the Designer's Initials? The 67' has a Quintupled Obverse on "RTY", FS-101.

Chris

 

Thanks

OK gang, thanks now I have the picture. I really appreciate the help and info as always. Now I know what to shop for to fill the three holes.


Erin

 

Yup

Yup

and Yup!

Nada on all acounts.