Explanation for 1964 SMS coins
pcgsregistrycollector
Posts: 1,447 ✭✭✭✭✭
Hey everyone,
I’ve been looking into Special Mint Set (SMS) coins and I’m a bit confused about the difference between the 1964 SMS coins and the more common 1965–67 SMS issues. I know the 1964 SMS coins are extremely rare, but what exactly sets them apart from the 1965–67 sets in terms of production, appearance, or purpose? Were they made differently? Any help or insight would be appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
pcgsregistrycollector
God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️
1
Comments
Here's what a couple of guys have said about it on the $50C page at linked PCGS(bottom of page).
Perhaps in '64 it was a 'trial run' with specially prepared dies, then shared amongst some Mint Elites at the time?
Then in '65-67 those great SMS sets came out to replace the Proofs for those 3 years...
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1964-50c-sms/6844
.
One of our members has done research on the 1964 SMS.
Here is a recent thread—
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1094235/origins-of-the-1964-sms-coins-info-now-published-in-nov-2024-the-numismatist#latest
And another member graded some of the first ones submitted to a major grading company. He also knew/knows some of the dealers who were among the first to handle them. 😉 See the thread linked below.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1100576/1964-sms-coins-what-i-ve-heard-what-i-ve-seen-what-i-know-and-what-i-don-t-know-about-them#latest
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
'64 SMS threads are always good entertainment
Coin Photographer and Videographer
https://www.youtube.com/@FriendlyEagle7
Their ain't no such thing. November 2024 issue of "The Numismatist"
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
I really want to put some 64 SMS coins in my video machine, I think it would show the difference really well. There is some disagreement as to whether they are truly special strikes or just really high grade business strikes. I'd love for someone to come up with a quantitative way to know for certain whether they were struck with higher pressure.
If you want to be sure whether a given coin is one of the 64SMS you have to match the die polish lines. The chip under the 4 in 1964 could've occurred during striking and I recall reading there is at least one without the chip there.
https://www.youtube.com/@FriendlyEagle7
What we know from FlyingAI's research is that the 64SMS coins are the same dies as the business strike coins in the NNC for 1964.
Coin Photographer and Videographer
https://www.youtube.com/@FriendlyEagle7
The views expressed in that article are opinions. And opinions on this subject differ greatly.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
1964 SMS coinage is just one of many.................................., unusual/out of the ordinary................................ things happening at the US Mints during 1964, including:
the coin shortage;
the decision to not put mint marks on coins dated after 1964;
the government's 12-1963 decision to honor JFK by ending the Franklin half and striking the Kennedy half dollar (and the rush to make the change over and start production);
the decision to remove 90% silver from US coinage (with the 40% halves being a short term compromise that ended in in 1971);
the decision to produce and thereafter the follow up quick decision to not produce the 1964 D Peace Dollar (and the supposed destruction of all of the produced coins); and
the decision to no longer produce and sell US Proof Sets (and to replace them with Special Mint Sets starting in 1965.
That sounds really plausible. Some employee in 1963-64 has a new idea these Special Mint sets, we will sell a ton and collectors get great coins. He talks to manager, manager likes idea brings it up the tree. Guys at top say, Hmmm. let me see.. "what they would look like"? "Why don't you make some for all of the people making the decision to inspect themselves and then we will decide"? Back down the tree, examples made, shown to management. They say yep, lets do this, marketing sales, procurement everyone gets on board, dies made and by this time it is 1965.
.
Thanks guys! That helps a lot.
God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️
The mint may have had some input, but
2, #3, and #4 were LAWS not mint decisions.
Arguably, #5 was the mint thinking the law would be changed and getting ahead of the actual legislation that didn't happen.
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")