1964 50C SMS SP67 PCGS....

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1964 SMS Kennedy Half, SP67
One of About a Dozen Known

1964 50C SMS SP67 PCGS. A great deal of misinformation surrounds these interesting and enigmatic issues, which represent by far the rarest Kennedy halves of any kind. Our extensive research into these coins indicates that only about a dozen examples of the so-called "1964 SMS" Kennedy halves exist today.

Although the usually given date is 1993, we have, in fact, discovered auction appearances at Stack's of these coins dating to 1991. Lot 591 in Stack's auction of June 19-20, 1991, was described in this way:

"AN UNUSUAL 1964 'P' SET
1964'P' Cent through Half Dollar. Choice Brilliant Uncirculated. Nearly all show evidence of die refinishing at the mint. The 1c is red gold with planchet striations on the obverse, the reverse fully struck up. The 5c has pastel iridescence and a mirror rim like a 1941 coin. The 10c has light russet toning on a satiny surface with faint striations. The 25c has normal lustre under gold toning. The 50c has a fully satiny obverse and a somewhat reflective surface. The strike on all the coins is far sharper than is seen even on the Special Mint Sets. We suspect that these were struck as an experiment to determine the sort of finish the Mint would use from 1965 to 1967. 5 pieces."

These "sets" were, in reality, merely assemblages of five coins, cent through half dollar, that were each in individual snap-tight clear plastic holders. None of the 1964 SMS "sets" were ever in any kind of official Mint packaging. We have counted only nine "complete" 1964 SMS five-piece sets that appeared at Stack's between 1991 and 1995. Numismatist and coin dealer Jesse Lipka recognized the "1964 SMS" coins as something special, and bought 80%-90% of all the sets that would appear at Stack's in the following few years. Lipka also noted that some of the Kennedy half dollars contained in the 1964 "sets" were regular circulation strikes, making the half dollar denomination the rarest of the five.

All 1964 SMS half dollars show various die markers that identify a single die pair. Die Markers: Reverse. An especially heavy die polishing line runs from the bottom right tip of the small middle serif in (O)F to A(MERICA). Another heavy die polishing line runs from the lower-right tip of the small lower serif of the F in HALF to the rim near the D in DOLLAR. Obverse. A tiny teardrop-shaped (or apostrophe-shaped) lump of metal hangs down from the underside of the crosslet on the 4, just right of the intersection with the upright of that digit.

The surfaces of the present coin are satin-textured, as seen to a greater or lesser degree on every 1964 SMS Kennedy. Attractive salmon-orange rim toning appears on the upper obverse and lower reverse. Some carbon-gray flecks are scattered around the lower and left obverse. The strike is remarkably full on all details, and a sharp wire rim around both sides is also typical. The "dangling 4" die marker on the obverse is prominent, as are the especially heavy die-finishing lines from (O)F to A(MERICA) and (HAL)F to D(OLLAR).

The PCGS population has changed slightly in recent years with regards to the grades represented (indicating ongoing crossover and upgrade attempted), but the total number of coins listed has remained almost constant, with PCGS registering 11 grading events for these coins today -- seven in SP67 (two of which are Plus-designated), and four in SP68 (2/22). We know at least one of the SP67s is a duplication.
Ex: ANA Signature (Heritage, 7-8/2008), lot 2704; Dave Shelton (8/2008); via private trade to the owner of the Bristol Collection (3/2010); Bristol Collection / Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2016), lot 5545.(Registry values: P1)

Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 6844, GSID# 6988)

Metal: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight: 12.50 grams
ASW: 0.3617oz
Melt Value: $8.32
Silver Spot: $23/oz (05-05-2022)

View Certification Details from PCGS