1966 5C SMS, CAM SP66CAM Certification #12399683, PCGS #84198

Mintage: Circulation strikes: 136,131,380 Proofs: 2,360,000 Designed by: Felix 0. Schlag Composition: 0.75 part copper, 0.25 part nickel Diameter: 21.2 mm Weight: 76.16 grains (5 grams) Edge: Plain The 1966 Special Mint Set (SMS) Jefferson Nickel was meant to replace proof issues during the coin shortage of the early 1960's. These mint sets were special in that they were made with higher standards than regular mint sets. However the US Mint did not prepare the dies and planchets as carefully as they do for proof coins. Additionally, the coins were only struck once, as opposed to proof coins that are struck at least two or more times to bring up the detail of the design. 1966 was the first year that the Jefferson Nickel had Felix O. Schlag’s initials “FS” added to the design just below the bust of Thomas Jefferson on the obverse. At the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Convention that same year, Schlag was presented with the first two Jefferson Nickels that were struck with his initials on them. Some people believed that they were “proof” coins and extremely rare. But, upon further research it was determined that they were “circulation” strikes. The first few coins struck from new dies for these SMS sets can look very close to proof coins. For that reason they are included in the Jefferson Nickel proof set collection. There are three die states in the SMS type series. First is Deep Cameo contrast with mirrored field. The second is a Cameo Contrast and the third is no contrast between the devices and the field.

Jaime Hernandez

The 1966 Special Mint Set Jefferson Nickel was only produced for mint sets for the year. Most examples were struck with non cameo and deep cameo surfaces, making them very scrace if compared to the non cameo or non deep cameo examples that exist.