How were 1967 SMS coins struck?
relayer
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From the PCGS lingo site:
Special Mint Set
A set of special coins-neither business strikes nor Proofs-first struck in limited quantities in 1965 and officially released in 1966-1967- to replace Proof sets, which were discontinued as part of the U.S. Mint?s efforts to stop coin hoarding. The quality of many of the 1965 coins was not much better than that of business strikes-but by 1967, some Special Mint Set (SMS) coins resembled Proofs. In fact, the government admitted as much when it revealed how the 1967 issues were struck. In 1968, Proof coinage resume. There have been similar issues since; the 1994 and 1997 Matte-finish Jefferson nickels, for example, are frosted SMS-type coins. There also are a few known 1964 SMS coins, these likely struck as tests in late 1964 for the new 1965 SMS strikings.
Where they double stuck using highly polished dies like proofs? What is different between the 1965/66 sets and 1967?
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<< <i>Where they double stuck using highly polished dies like proofs? >>
The dies did receive more polishing and preparation than business strikes, but not nearly the care given to proof dies. They were struck only once, but they were struck under higher pressure
<< <i>What is different between the 1965/66 sets and 1967? >>
The biggest difference is the length of time each die continued in service. In 1965 they used them essentially without any reconditioning until they were useless. In 1966 they were slightly better about it, and in 1967 they were prepared and serviced much more frequently.
Russ, NCNE
- The Numismatist, April, 1967, p.424
Joe
Thanks Joe.
I was looking for the Mint's "revelation"
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'67 dies were more likely to be basined than earlier SMS dies and there was much less
experimenting by the time the '67's were struck.
As Russ said the biggest differences were that dies were maintained more carefully and
perhaps swapped out a little sooner.
'67 issues are far more likely to be PL than the earlier coins but the finest coins from all
three years are comparable except that the earlier issues are more likely to have more
"proof qualities".