What is SMS

[mlayers]

My daughter and I have been searching halfs for the last 6 months. I just got her a Kennedy Half Book to put some nice looking coins in for her. In this book there is slots for 1965 SMS, 1966 SMS, and 1967 SMS can anyone tell me what this SMS stands for. I have looked in her 2010 red book and I do not see anything for this. Any help would be greatly appricated......Matt

 

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[waseeker]

SMS = Special Mint Set.

With the change over from Silver to Clad coinage in 1965, the mint did not produce proof sets in 1965, 1966 and 1967. To meet collector demand they did issue the SMS.

 

[FreedomUIC]

SMS = Special Mint Set.

With the change over from Silver to Clad coinage in 1965, the mint did not produce proof sets in 1965, 1966 and 1967. To meet collector demand they did issue the SMS.

 

[franklin half]

special mint set

 

[byrne3]

As everyone has stated it is Special Mint Set.

SMS coins are somewhat proof-like, but not exactly proof. They are better than business strike (fuller strike), more of a mirror-finish, not like a proof, but proof-like.

The difficult part is actually differentiating between SMS coins and higher quality business strikes.. PCGS, and NGC mislabel business strikes as SMS all the time..

Also it's not just 65, 66, and 67.. Some modern coin-sets have the SMS designation too..

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