1965 Special Mint Set with Spectacular Error

[SomersetSmile]

I have a 1965 Special Mint Set that appears to have an error on the 5 cent Jefferson Nickel reverse above the Memorial. It appears to be a planchet gorge or a strike thru or a die gorge. The coin is still in the original sealed cellophane and I don't want to open it because it is proof that the error originated at the Mint. Looking at the attached photos I can see part of the error is below the U in the motto but does not seem to affect it. I seem to remember reading an article many years ago about a similar error on coin describing it as appearing as if a tornado or a meteor was about to strike the Memorial, if this error has been described before does anyone know the details. Also does anyone know where to send it to establish a value and rating. I do not recall ever seeing a rating display of a whole Mint set (I would think part of the rarity and value would be in the whole set in the original packaging). This Special Mint Set has several coins having moderate frosted Cameos that could also affect the overall value. 20240420_225214.jpg 20240420_225551.jpg 20240420_225551.jpg

[occnumis2021]

can't be a die gouge, then it would be raised but yours is recessed and a very neat strike-through!

[SomersetSmile]

Well I listed it on eBay.com at $2499.00 (eBay limits starting bid unless graded by one of the Big services). 10 people viewed it but no bidders

[SomersetSmile]

I did see someone had a NGC graded in a 1965 Special Mint Set cellophane display listed on eBay (25c on 5c) so that did answer one of my questions about if one of the grading services could grade a Special Mint Set without removing the coins from the original cellophane.

[Ray Parkhurst]

Well I listed it on eBay.com at $2499.00 (eBay limits starting bid unless graded by one of the Big services). 10 people viewed it but no bidders

Why would you think it would be worth so much?

[SomersetSmile]

I thought it might be worth a lot because it was the 1st year after they stopped making separate proof and mint sets. They had indicated that the mints were putting more effort into producing a higher quality than normal mint sets, 1965 was the only year the mint produced these in the sealed cellophane so I thought they would have put more care into inspections. Further the shape and position of the error is spectacular, attractive and likely unique. Beyond the error Jefferson Nickel many of the other coins in the set are nice Cameo grade specimens, which likely are worth hundreds each in there own rights. I have been seeing some error coins going for $ millions in recent auctions.

[MintErrors]

Well I listed it on eBay.com at $2499.00 (eBay limits starting bid unless graded by one of the Big services). 10 people viewed it but no bidders

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IF this is incused (sunk) into the coin, then OCC is spot on and it is a strike through. In that case, they can happen quite regularly, and it would be a fight to get your return on investment back. BUT it is up to you on whether you want to send it in to get authenticated and graded. You might want to add a post in the CONECA services area under the EXAMINATIONS area and see what CONECA says about the coin. IF they say its a strike through, then its not worth much. SMS and proofs coins that have major errors might go for that much, but strike throughs...not so much.

[Guitars and Koinz]

Thanks,I try not to get my hopes up buy at least I'm learning what IS and ISNT,and that will be valuable someday!!!!

[SomersetSmile]

I believe the error is likely a strike thru resulting in a grove but I am puzzled by the shadow direction compared to the lettering. Further even if a strike thru grove the object is unusually smooth hemisphere cross-section and uniform. I wonder what could have caused it and where it came from. Another possibility is the error is a die or planchet grove.

[MintErrors]

It could have been anything. More than likely a sliver or extra metal got in between the dies. It could have been a piece from the collar or a sheered piece of metal from an error coin. The possibilities are many.

The strike though metal simply lands either on the die or on the planchet itself and this struck. Some times the strike through is retained and they can bring slightly higher values if they are dramatic enough for the collectors.

The groove simply resembled the material which caused the strike through. It's probably not related to the design elements and it just happened with no planning, rhyme nor reason. As Bob the moderator used to say, at the U S Mint, things do happen.

[SomersetSmile]

I can understand the debris landing flat side down but landing perfectly rounded side down on the raised planchet and not into the sunken area of the Memorial.

[SomersetSmile]

can't be a die gouge, then it would be raised but yours is recessed and a very neat strike-through!

Although not likely in this case to escape Mint detection strike dies are second generation, the 1st hub master die could also have a gouge or strike thru resulting in raised areas on coins.