FINAL update on EXPRESS order over 175 days!!!
raycyca
Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭
This fiasco is FINALLY complete!!! Thanks to Wondercoin and his post, PCGS has actually taken action and have CLOSED this situation, once and for all! It's taken OVER 175 business days for completion, but it's done. THANK YOU Mitch!!!!! Here's the details:
1. PCGS has held back the order since 12 Dec 2024 because the 1965 Kennedy was deemed as an SMS 67 coin and not a regular MS 67 coin. This was at least the 4th time it went back for regrading in the last 20 years! The value was $2600 according to the Coinfacts website. I received a phone call from Justin Atkins on 14 Mar 25 stating why the order was being held up.
2. He broke up the order into 2 parts so I could get 4 out of the 5 coins on the order back, which I did. Two of the 4 coins were upgraded and I now have to return one of the remaining 2 to have it regraded again.
3. After Mitch's post I received a check for the coin AND received the coin back in a new SMS 67 holder at the end of Aug 25.
4. There have been a LOT of guessing as what was going on and what the truth was in this situation. This is the EXACT condensed happenings during this 8 month ordeal. Everything I have posted all along during this exhausting ordeal has been true and not distorted. I can't speak for PCGS's part.
5. I should be angry and hold a grudge, but thanks to Mitch and Justin, all things have come to a positive end. I'm not even still upset the person that blocked my calls.
Comments
I’m glad it’s done and that you’re apparently satisfied with the outcome. If your old thread is still up and running, I think it would have been better to post your update there, so more readers could have a clearer idea regarding what occurred.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
PCGS locked that thread.
Glad to hear it has finally been settled! Unfortunately a nudge from a big player is what’s needed at times as it’s easy to ignore those that don’t matter to the bottom line.
Thanks.
For readers who aren’t familiar with this subject, here’s a link to the locked thread: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1111725/update-on-an-express-order-thats-over-123-business-days-at-pcgs-update-5/p1
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
What are you going to do with the 'SMS'? Crack and try NGC or CACG to get their opinion?
Irony mixed with humor?
If the 1965 SMS is cracked and submitted (again) and returns in an MS slab.
peacockcoins
i suggest crossover instead of cracking
If a grading company even allows crossovers for a different designation, I think the chances of success are approximately 0%,
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
You’re welcome Ray; happy I could help.
Justin is a great guy and hats off to PCGS too for doing the right thing about 150 days ago! At (relatively) great expense to PCGS they stepped up and recognized on their own (without anyone asking) they had made a mistake years ago with the grading of a coin. And, they paid the price for their honest interactions. Perhaps even more than they should have (IMHO) due to a slightly enthusiastic value of the coin in the Price Guide (that benefitted the OP). That’s what makes PCGS great.
Did it take a bit longer time than desired to wrap it all up- perhaps. But, that is, in part, because (IMHO) in the interim a premium example of the subject coin came to auction they intended to purchase for Ray but it sold for a very high price beyond what PCGS budgeted to pay (and even more than I would personally pay and I have the #1 MS Kennedy Half Dollar Registry set in the Registry (and got there, at times, by stepping up to pay “too much money” for some of the coins in my set). And giving back the (valuable) subject coin to Ray literally for free is icing on the cake of PCGS’ good faith in this situation!
So, while Ray also honestly stated (in #4 above) that he couldn’t speak for PCGS, forgive me for doing my own speaking for them as I believe they, overall, get high marks for their honesty and integrity in this matter.
Wondercoin
I'm confused, it looks like the regular strike MS67 is worth more than the "special strike": https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1965-50c/6708
That’s correct. The coin was previously incorrectly designated as a circulation strike and subsequently determined to be a far less valuable “special strike”. So the submitter was compensated for the huge decrease in value.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
What is the difference between the two coins, what makes one SMS and the other MS? We could all learn something...
See here from the PCGS website: https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1965-50c-sms/6845/67
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
From Ron Guth:
Ron Guth:
In 1965, the U.S. Mint discontinued issuing both Proof and Mint sets. However, as an alternative, the Mint began offering what are known as Special Mint Sets. The coins in these sets had a special finish that was most akin to the Satin Proofs of 1936 -- far better than the finish on a regular Mint State coin, but not nearly as brilliant and reflective as the finish on the Proof coins of 1937 to 1964. Collectors purchased over 2.6 million 1965 sets, but only because they had no alternative. This amount was far below the number of 1964 Proof Sets sold (3.95 million) and the total of all 1964 Proof and Mint Sets sold (4.96 million), thus the Mint took a serious hit to its revenue stream. The Mint issued Special Mint Sets in 1965, 1966, and 1967, and each year saw a declining mintage. In 1968, the Mint began offering regular Proof and Mint Sets. Collector enthusiasm returned and the mintages returned to their pre-Special Mint Set levels.
1965 Special Mint Set Half Dollar are plentiful and they are usually nice. The most common certified grade is SP66. The highest grade is SP68, which is quite scarce.
Cameo examples represent about a fourth of the total population. Deep Cameo examples are extremely scarce -- on average, only one out of every ninety 1965 Special Mint Set Half Dollars will be a Deep Cameo.
Thank you everyone for your EXTREME patience during this ordeal!!! To say the least it was very nerve racking, frustrating , disappointing and embarrassing. I agree with Mitch that Justin is a real standup guy and praise him very highly. The 1965 Kennedy that graded MS 67 sold at auction for over $3300 with the juice against the guide of $2600 in March 2025. I also have paid stupid money chasing the registry, never again.