I am trying to find info on the 1964 SMS coins. What deferentiates the 1964 SMs from the 1964 Proof set? How were EACH set packaged? Does the 1964 SMS Half dollar have the accented hair or do some not? Any help appreciated Justice
You can find a lot of this information on my website, including large-size pictures of the finest known set, a deal which we facilitated. The set traded hands for $151,200. Take a look! Best Regards, George To give a bit longer answer, the 1964 SMS coins were Special Strikes from business-strike dies. The proofs (only) are the Accented Hair type, so the 1964 SMS coins show the Normal Hair obverse. What distinguishes the coins more is their incredibly sharp strike, satiny surfaces, and extremely high preservation. But they are not reflective like a proof. We have bought and sold several complete sets and individual pieces. All of them show heavy die polishing on both sides along with the sharp strike and high preservation. See our website photos, and I hope this helps. There was no original packaging, when the coins started appearing in Stack's auctions in the early 1990s they were just in regular clear plastic snap-lock holders. Whether they came from the Mint that way, or whether Stack's put them in those holders, I do not know.
