SMS?

derryb

How do you know its an SMS coin? Were the SMS sets labled Special Mint Set? How does PCGS know its SMS?

Russ

Unfortunately, business strikes and SMS coins were struck from the same dies. The only difference was planchet prep and striking pressure, so in many cases there simply is no way to be certain about an individual coin. Some SMS are very obvious because they look like proofs. Others are nothing more than a guess.

Yes, the sets were labeled SMS. They were also the only sets issued during those years, (1965 to 1967). The 1965 set is a flat pack that says "SS" in the lower left corner. The 1966 and 1967 sets are plastic and come with a blue box and say Special Mint Set.

Russ, NCNE

derryb

Thanks Russ. How does PCGS know to grade it SMS?

robertpr

<< <i>Thanks Russ. How does PCGS know to grade it SMS? >>



Basically you have three groups of coins: obvious SMS coins, obvious business strikes, and the in-betweens. I think in the case of the in-betweens they first look at the strike then at the grade, and if the coins grades high with a great strike, it's likely an SMS coin, and if the strike is OK or weak, it's probably a business strike.

airedale

<< <i>

<< <i>Thanks Russ. How does PCGS know to grade it SMS? >>



Basically you have three groups of coins: obvious SMS coins, obvious business strikes, and the in-betweens. I think in the case of the in-betweens they first look at the strike then at the grade, and if the coins grades high with a great strike, it's likely an SMS coin, and if the strike is OK or weak, it's probably a business strike. >>



I have wondered about this very thing for some time. Basically, bottom line, then a high grade ( expensive ) business strike would just be sent back as an SMS ( less expensive ) because the grader did not know what to to with it? It would seem there would be no certified MS67+ business strikes for the years 65 through 67 then? How strange.

LindeDad

Yes many of the higher grade coins are now in SMS holders and worth a lot less. I sure wish I could find a couple of those dates in MS67 at a true MS67 price.

BUBBAh

the topic of how PCGS can distinguish between SMS and regular buisness strikes has been

hashed over alot these past few years .

At one time R. Montgomery said they had a secret way of telling ...............

........................