The Kennebunkport Collection™🎁: Special Mint Sets

About This Set: In mid-1964, collectors were put on notice that the U.S. Mint would not offer Proof or Mint sets in 1965. Instead, Special Mint Sets were produced at the San Francisco Assay Office in 1965, and also in 1966 and 1967.

The sets represented a compromise between the traditional Uncirculated Mint sets and Proof sets during a period when the Mint was focused on producing coins for circulation. Along with major coinage shortages, the dime, quarter, and half dollar were changed from 90 percent silver alloy to copper-nickel and silver-copper clad compositions.

Coins in this SMS were struck once on a high-tonnage press from polished dies. The coins are generally uniformly brilliant, but most examples lack the full mirror finish that a Proof coin would have.

In 1966, U.S. Mint Director Eva Adams reported that the SMS coins would “have a higher relief than regular coins and be better in appearance than any of the regular uncirculated sets heretofore issued.” That statement proved true, although most SMS coins visually fell short of duplicating Proof coins. A handful of coins from the Special Mint sets are found with frosted devices and brilliant fields, resulting in handsome cameo contrast. In 1996, PCGS added designations for Cameo and Deep Cameo for 1965 to 1967 Special Mint set coins.