Interesting Penny (Proof?)

[fjer]

I was going through penny bags yesterday and found a '62 with mirror like finish. It's also a bit thicker than most. Proof?

 

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[CoinFetcher]

Need to see the "fields" better - get some different pics/angles.

Cant quite tell....

 

[dustywallen]

It appears to be a SMS Lincoln Cent.

 

[fjer]

Need to see the "fields" better - get some different pics/angles.

Cant quite tell....

Here's a few more with different lighting/angles:

 

[CoinFetcher]

I am unfamiliar with the 62 SMS - I thought they had mint sets, and then a proof set that year.

My cursory Googling shows that.

 

[jrf30]

SMS

 

[fjer]

It appears to be a SMS Lincoln Cent.

SMS

Thanks!

 

[Diver_Down]

There are some surprising answers from posters that know the difference. Special Mint Sets were issued 65, 66, 67. Obviously the coin pictured is a '62-P. Now, the question regarding seeing the fields isn't going to give any clues regarding the presence of Cameo/non-cameo surfaces. Proofs at that time didn't have frosted devices and mirror fields (not all - very few had a cameo effect and sell for high numismatic premiums over other proofs). Proofs did receive special handling at the mint and consequently there are clues (sometimes) that are left behind due to this handling. The dies were polished by hand at the time for proofs. Business strikes didn't not receive the special treatment. As a result of the hand polishing, there was often lint left behind on the die. The presence of lint marks on early proofs are sometimes the only way to tell the difference from business strikes minted in Philly.

 

[dustywallen]

There are some surprising answers from posters that know the difference. Special Mint Sets were issued 65, 66, 67. Obviously the coin pictured is a '62-P. Now, the question regarding seeing the fields isn't going to give any clues regarding the presence of Cameo/non-cameo surfaces. Proofs at that time didn't have frosted devices and mirror fields (not all - very few had a cameo effect and sell for high numismatic premiums over other proofs). Proofs did receive special handling at the mint and consequently there are clues (sometimes) that are left behind due to this handling. The dies were polished by hand at the time for proofs. Business strikes didn't not receive the special treatment. As a result of the hand polishing, there was often lint left behind on the die. The presence of lint marks on early proofs are sometimes the only way to tell the difference from business strikes minted in Philly.

Sorry. Was carding SMS Lincoln's at that moment. It does appear to be a proof. Lol

 

[fjer]

There are some surprising answers from posters that know the difference. Special Mint Sets were issued 65, 66, 67. Obviously the coin pictured is a '62-P. Now, the question regarding seeing the fields isn't going to give any clues regarding the presence of Cameo/non-cameo surfaces. Proofs at that time didn't have frosted devices and mirror fields (not all - very few had a cameo effect and sell for high numismatic premiums over other proofs). Proofs did receive special handling at the mint and consequently there are clues (sometimes) that are left behind due to this handling. The dies were polished by hand at the time for proofs. Business strikes didn't not receive the special treatment. As a result of the hand polishing, there was often lint left behind on the die. The presence of lint marks on early proofs are sometimes the only way to tell the difference from business strikes minted in Philly.

Sorry. Was carding SMS Lincoln's at that moment. It does appear to be a proof. Lol

Thanks for the info, guys. Glad to see my initial thought was correct (my first proof penny!).