RWB

As noted in an earlier thread, 1965 SMS coins were merely made using new dies with very short production runs. The dies presumably then went to regular coinage. 1965 SMS coins will usually have slightly better detail than circulation pieces - that and the packaging is about it. The phony "1964 SMS" coins are nothing but the same without the packaging -- they occur with every change of dies, in every year, for every denomination.

Must be rare -- It was designed by an Irishman: O Schultz.

Is yours #10? It does seem odd....

Polished...maybe in a rock tumbler -- or maybe a high-ball tumbler.

It is possible the 1967 sets were made with the same presses as earlier proofs, and with similar die and planchet preparation. However, quality control was also looser and I suspect packaging was also inferior in production. Mint document show multiple "reasons" for not issuing 1965-1967 proofs - the most common was the "coin shortage" which had largely vanished by mid-1965.

In 1965 those who bought SMS were very disappointed in what was delivered.

Most coin photos, except those made by NGC and PCGS are taken before the coin is stuck in plastic. The quality is much better and lighting is simpler to control. Slabs are ALWAYS an impediment.

Treasury Announces New U.S. Mint Acting Director September 24, 2021 WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Alison Doone as the new Acting Director of the U.S. Mint. Doone previously served as Chief Administrative Officer at the Mint. Doone’s first day as Acting Director will be on October 1 as Director David J. Ryder leaves the bureau to pursue new opportunities. “I’m excited to serve the U.S. Mint as Acting Director to help it continue its important work,” said Alison Doone. “I look forward to working alongside the devoted Mint employees across the country and supporting our ongoing efforts to ensure that we are operating efficiently and producing quality products for the American people.” “We thank Director Ryder for his dedicated service to the U.S. Mint and welcome Alison to serve in this role,” said Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo. “It is essential for the U.S. Mint to continue its critical operations to produce our coinage amid increased demand and safeguard American assets. I have confidence that Alison’s leadership will help us carry out this mission.” “It was an honor to serve as the 34th and the 39th Director of the U.S. Mint,” said Director David J. Ryder. “During this global pandemic, the U.S. Mint has showcased American excellence. Not only did the Mint meet its primary mission of producing circulating coinage, but it generated near-record revenue by introducing wildly popular numismatic products at a time in which many of its peers around the world ceased operations. Thank you to all of the employees who work tirelessly and play a role in ensuring that the Mint can meet the demands of the public, deliver quality products, and operate effectively. I know that with Alison serving as Acting Director, the Mint will continue to do just that.” Doone, a member of the Senior Executive Service since 2004, has served as the Mint’s Chief Administrative Officer since March 2021. Before beginning her work with the Mint, Ms. Doone served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Education from August 2018 to March 2021; Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Energy from January 2013 to August 2018; Chief Financial Officer at the General Services Administration from September 2010 to January 2013; Chief and Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Internal Revenue Service from August 2005 to September 2010; and, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Drug Enforcement Administration from June 2004 to August 2005. Prior to her appointments in the SES, Ms. Doone served as a Senior Level (SL), Deputy Staff Director for Management at the Federal Election Commission from November 1999 to June 2004. Ms. Doone holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Pennsylvania State University and a Master’s degree in finance from the University of Michigan. ### It should be noted that the office of Treasurer of the United States remains vacant. The Mint Bureau reports to the Treasurer.

...not quite. The law is clear and applies equally to all counterfeits, however they are produced. No one has legally challenged the criminals largely because of the expense of litigation and "protection" from customers and ANA, who bury their heads in the sand. Compared to importers of fake consumer products, airplane parts, drugs, etc. the fleecing of a few $100,000 from coin collectors is not worth the cost. The US Mint has a similar approach even though it is their coins that are faked.

Does anyone have a convenient concordance between Cohen and Breen half cent numbers? Thanks!

The horse was hungry and took a bite. The rider is not Rodney -- it's Blakesley.

Nice detail photos of mechanical doubling. See the book From Mine to Mint for information on how and why this happens. It is extremely common.

Saw that BOLO on the agency net -- Quintus must have some real pull.

One must have hair for it to be properly dressed.

There are no "1964 SMS" coins - that myth is simply a play by some greedy sellers to take your money.

The result you see on the Kennedy half comes from partial collapse of the die during use. The cause is incomplete hardening and tempering of a die during manufacture which makes part of the interior softer than the rest. Softer steel is displaced more than harder steel and coins struck from that die resemble the one you posted. Missing FG results from excess resurfacing of the die to remove superficial damage such as cracks. Fine details can be removed in this way. Missing letters from Independence are likely from those letters being filled with gunk during use. There's no collector premium except in a very high state of preservation - which your coins are not.

I wonder if ANA is also changing the numbers for dead members? Remember, they vote, too!

Doesn't really matter. My 500-year gold medal and pin have my regular membership number as assigned when I joined - of course it's in Roman numerals. My membership card is signed by King James I.

Sorry to disappoint - common coin in common condition.

What you, the new owner, thinks is more important.

YouTube and similar unvetted sites are your numismatic enemy. Most coin videos are either commercial touts, error-filled confusion, or gross exaggerations.

That's right. The word "rusty" was being applied to discolored/tarnished coins retrieved from moldy and rotting cotton duck bags. There was little in Mint vaults that would induce extensive rust deposits on coin -- no steel cans of dollars, etc. There was plenty of sulfur from the cloth, and coal fires, however.

When a problem involves multiple people or organizations, the best way to begin a solution includes identifying those affected, understand how they are affected, and ask each group how they might propose a solution. It is common for this type of evolutionary problem solving to produce unexpected results, so the organizers have to be open to all suggestions and alternatives. Decisions are built on communication of ideas and negotiation of immediate and long-term solutions. The worst approach is usually a single-minded dictate. In US and European cultures that creates an immediate negative emotion that hampers finding the best solution. Consider how this could be applied to grading coins, or other aspects of numismatics.

There was debris between the reverse die and the planchet when the coin was struck.

Polished and damaged. No numismatic value; keep it for its sentimental value.