Profiles in Kennedy 1965 SMS

coincollector1989

I have not observed any Kennedy threads lately and decided to post a few comments on a nice Kennedy half dollar. The photo attached (hopefully) is one that I won off Ebay some time ago in 2004 (I dont remember exactly), and is the seller's photgraph. This is the best looking 1965 SMS Kennedy I have seen. If anyone knows of any other varities please let me know. Also if anyone has any pics they would like to post please do so as I dont have pics of any of the varities.

1965 SMS:
Mintage SMS: 2,360,000
Population estimate MS Cameo: MS-65 1,500-3,000 MS-66 1,500-3,000 MS-67+ 750-1,500
Population estimate MS DCAM: MS-65 250-500 MS-66 250-500 MS-67+ 125-250

Key points to remember: This was the first year of reduced silver content (40%). This was also the first year of the SMS series, as no proofs were made during 1965, 1966, 1967. SMS dies were not as highly polished or burnished as previous proof dies. These dies were used for longer periods of time than proof dies. SMS coins did not receive any cleaning or maintenance as proof did. The SMS coins were struck under high pressure as proof coins though. The most important thing to remember about SMS coins is that they were not individually handled after striking, they were treated just as regular coinage for circulation and dumped into a coin bin. Non-cameo, deeply mirrored gems with no water spots and bag marks are scarce. MS-67 cameos with moderate contrast are very scarce. PQ graded 1965 SMS Kennedy’s with DCAM are extremely rare. The mirror depth and black and white contrast of 1965 SMS Kennedy’s usually are not as deep and contrasting as the 1964.

Varieties: 1965 SMS

DDO-001, Light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST, ERTY of LIBERTY, and hair under the R of LIBERTY.
Die marker (EDS): light scratches along the front bust.
Rarity: rare 5-8 known

DDO-002, Medium triple spread on date, WE TRUST, and TY of LIBERTY with a light spread on the hair under the R of LIBERTY.
There is no confirmed MDS or LDS.
Rarity: ultra rare only 1 known

DDO-003, Light spread on WE TRUST, 65 of date, and TY of LIBERTY.
No confirmed EDS or LDS
Die marker (MDS): Die gouge to the right of the upper 5 of date, die gouge on the D of UNITED, die gouge on the R of AMERICA.
Rarity: rare 5-8 known

DDO-004, DDR-001, Obverse: Light spread on WE TRUST and Y of LIBERTY. Reverse: Strong spread on all outer lettering and stars in the circle and light light spread on the stars between the rays and above E PLURIBUS UNUM.
There is no confirmed MDS or LDS
Rarity: ultra rare only 1 known

DDO-005, Light spread on WE TRUST, date, designer’s initials, and Y of LIBERTY.
Die marker (EDS): Light die scratches North-South on Obverse and Reverse.
There is no confirmed MDS or LDS
Rarity: rare 3-4 known

DDR-005, Medium spread on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the stars under those letters, with light spread on the stars between the rays above E PLURIBUS UNUM, the banner and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
There is no confirmed EDS or LDS
Rarity: ultra rare 2 known

ROT-001, Rotated Reverse 110 degrees CW.
There is no confirmed EDS or LDS
Rarity: ultra rare 1 known

Added as of 050911

ROT-002, Rotated Reverse 150 degrees CW.
Rairty: unknown only 1 known Dheath's, research pending.
See Dheath's post for pictures.

I hope you enjoyed reading this and fall in love with the Kennedy as I have. Books reference are "THE KENNEDY HALF DOLLAR BOOK by James Wiles, CAMEO AND BRILLIANT PROOF COINAGE OF THE 1950 TO 1970 ERA by Rick Tomaska, TREASURE HUNTING FRANKLIN AND KENNEDY HALF DOLLARS DOUBLED DIES by Kevin Flynn and John Wexler.

DHeath

Here's one I bought recently that's not listed.

cladking

Great post.

Most of the struck SMS coins were probably washed and dried. I suspect that these
were struck under more pressure than proofs though most were struck only once.

These were the only date of the SMS issues to be sealed in the flat packs like the
earlier proofs. About half of the sets were very poor looking and many of these were
sold to collectors who wanted proofs rather than mint state coins. One has to wonder
if the attrition on this set might not be far higher than on the other dates.

LeeG

Great info, thanks!

moneyhungry

Great Info !!!! Thanks !


Terri Jo

Russ

<< <i>I hope you enjoyed reading this >>



I did (of course).

Russ, NCNE

coincollector1989

Does anyone have any pics they would like to post of 1965 SMS Kennedy ie bald, cameo, dcam, toned, straight up fugly, etc? Dheath I have added the varity that you have into my files. I will update my files and add it as ROT-002 Rotated Reverse 150 degrees CW.

DHeath

Here's one of the more attractive 65's I've holdered. I'll dig around. I believe I have a few more unattributed 65s.