So what does SMS mean?

hoardmonster

As in Kennedy SMS. I read an article about this once on some website, but can't find it now and don't remember much of what I read about it.

Cam40

SMS= Special Mint Set

In 1965-1967 no proof or mint sets were made, however there were SMS for these years. Somewhat of a
hybrid coin. Not a business strike coin, and not a proof coin. They,re somewhere in between.Some SMS coins
can and do look like proofs as well as a good business strike.

The 1998 SMS JFK matte-finish half dollar is a SMS because it was a specially prepared coin and part of a two-coin
government issue set. The other coin is the Robert Kennedy commemorative dollar.

hoardmonster

Thanks Cam40!!!

Goldog63

"Some Metal Stuff"

fivecents

<< <i>SMS= Special Mint Set >>


Also included in the SMS sets are the 1994 and the 1997 Coin and Currency sets with the Matte finish nickels and the 2000 Coin and Currency sets with the "burnished" Sac. dollar.

Mark

And for what it's worth, I can tell you that collectors back in the 1960s really disliked the SMS coins. The 1964 proof set cost $2.10 and had silver coins; the 1965 SMS set cost $4.00 and had only a partially silver half dollar. Plus the 1964 proof sets were a great investment because they zoomed in price almost immediately to about $12 to $15 or so I recall. But the 1965 SMS set was a dog and never really increased in price much.

Mark

Conder101

It means they aren't going to let you make a bunch of money on those MS 67 and 68 coins from the mid sixties that you sent in.

cladking

<< <i>And for what it's worth, I can tell you that collectors back in the 1960s really disliked the SMS coins. The 1964 proof set cost $2.10 and had silver coins; the 1965 SMS set cost $4.00 and had only a partially silver half dollar. Plus the 1964 proof sets were a great investment because they zoomed in price almost immediately to about $12 to $15 or so I recall. But the 1965 SMS set was a dog and never really increased in price much.

Mark >>



The SMS coins have long been the red headed step child of the modern markets. Not only were
they expensive and percieved very common but they were from a boring era with no mint marks.
They were uncs that looked proof but most were grossly inferior as proofs. With diligence one
could find examples that were attractive and fully PL, but otherwise most eyes saw them as a poor
imitation. Most of those who were interested in mint state coins didn't think of them as well made
uncs, but poorly made proofs so there was always little demand. These were so unappreciated
that in 1980 it was actually possible to melt the halfs for the wholesale price of the set, which would
leave the smaller denominations as profit to be spent. It's unlikely large numbers of sets were de-
stroyed this way but there have been large numbers destroyed by decades of benign neglect. It
has been only in the last several months that these have gained a significant premium.

keets

hey Sam

i'd imagine that during "the big meltdown" of 1980 more sets containing 40% half-dollars, both PR & MS, were broken up/destroyed than many realize. the thing is, there were so many to begin with that the illusion is that not that high of a percentage were destroyed. as per your constant admonishment, the day will arrive when those years spike in price as the finite supply is realized. as always, JMHO.

al h.

Mark

Cladking:

Your assessment is entirely correct. But I know that nowadays I have a small but increasing interest in collecting the 65-67 SMS coins in high grade. I haven't done anything yet, but these coins are part of our numismatic heritage and they have an interesting tale insofar as they were so universally disliked.

Mark

Russ

I like them.

Russ, NCNE

Mark

Russ:

It's coins such as yours that excite me about the SMS coins. Are you going to be spending that one soon at a Taco Bell near you???

Mark