When are non-cameo SMS coins worth submitting?

seanq

I picked up a couple of very nice SMS over the weekend, a 1966 and a 1967. The '66 dime and '67 Half have nicely frosted devices, but a bunch of hairlines I didn't seeuntil I got home.

However, the '67 quarter and cent are exceptionally nice - mark-free, well struck and no hint of cameo contrast. I'm considering sending them in anyway, but I don't want to waste the fees if they won't appreciate in value in a holder. In general, how nice do non-cameo SMS coins have to be to justify shipping them out to PCGS?


Sean Reynolds

Cam40

heck, i think just about any high grade gem is worthy of slabbing.
whether or not it appreciates over time all depends on how the market
goes. historicly though i think collectors on the whole have been alittle
cold on these, but today it seems to be warming a bit on those coins
especially for the occasional cameos in the sets.

nwcs

I think that the non cams are best sent when it is a die variety or error.

DHeath

Sean,

Put'em in airtites unless you're going to sell them. They don't do much over break-even in 68. One of my favorites halves is a 65 non-cam SMS. It looks like it was carved from aluminum. It is exceptional. It's a solid 8, but it lives in an airtite in my collection. I wouldn't consider selling it for what it would likely bring. It isn't uncommon, but I sure like to look at it. It reminds me of a commem.

IrishMike

I agree with Don. I have a looseleaf notebook with 2X2's of a complete set of washingtons, including proofs up to the state quarter program and rolls of sms quarters in plastic tubes. I collect them for the enjoyment not for profit. If you purchase an already slabbed sms quarter off ebay from one of the so called top dealers in this sort of material, I doubt that you will ever recover your investment. Its a long way of saying unless they are very cameo and no marks, they aren't worth submitting, at least the quarters.

I'd rather collect the sms sets and keep them that way. They grow some funky colors and have interesting toning patterns.

cladking

This really is a decision you need to base on the current market. Currently it is
extremely difficult to get much premium for non-cameo SMS coins. Some of these
are much more difficult than they seem until you look for them. Much of the prob-
lem is that all are readily available in stunning condition if you don't demand cameo.

Even some of the varieties are pretty common and it might be difficult to recover
the grading fees at the current time.

seanq

Thanks for the replies. They really are beautiful sets, so I will simply keep them that way. I imagine as more people tear the nice sets apart for cameos, the sets themselves might become scarce with five original, well-matched problem-free coins. So I'll change my position from a short-term view to a long-term view and enjoy looking at them in the meantime.


Sean Reynolds