Coins - 1967 Special Mint
Set
The 1967 Special Mint Set looked very similar to the previous year's set. A dark blue box held a hard plastic
lens with the five coins positioned in individual circles. Only the half dollar in the 1967 special mint set
contained any silver at 40%. In addition, the mints struck coins without identifying mint marks in
1967.
The box for the 1967 Special Mint Set looked similar to the previous year's set but a darker color of blue.
The long narrow box included "United States Special Mint Set" on the front with a white sticker
showing the US Mint seal and 1967.
1967 Special Mint Set Package
The back of the box looks almost gray, but it is a dark blue, and did not include any additional identifying
marks.
Opening one end of the box allows access to the 1967 Special Mint set.
1967 Special Mint Set Uncirculated Coins
Like the previous year, the 1967 Special Mint Set held each coin separately in its own circle of
plastic within the clear lens. A brighter blue plastic with individual circles for the coins provided a
background. The coins were arranged from the largest to smallest denomination.
At the top, a silver colored heraldic eagle resides between "United States" and "Special Mint Set." In the lower
right corner, "Packaged by US Mint" is included.
On the reverse, the clear lens allows easy viewing of the various designs on the coins.
For a close-up view, the sticker on the outer box includes the inner portion of the Treasury Department's seal
for the US Mint along with "1967" to identify the special mint set.
1967 Special Mint Set Coins and Metals
The 1967 Special Mint Set's coins contained the following metals:
Penny: 95% copper; 5% zinc
Nickel: 75% copper; 25% nickel
Dime: 91.67% copper; 8.33% nickel
Quarter: 91.67% copper; 8.33% nickel
Half Dollar: 60% copper; 40% silver (.1479 troy ounce of pure silver)
Click on Mint Set Population to view the contents of the sets
through the years. Take a look at the overall Mint Set page to see how the values
compare among the sets.
1967 Special Mint Set Year - News about Coins and the US Mint
(note: the below links to newspapers open in a new window)
Your Money's Okay, Say Samplers of US Mint
The Deseret News - Feb 9, 1967
The 1967 Mint Assay Commission looked at various coins produced by the US Mint as ordered by the Congress in 1792.
The presidentially appointed group weighs and examines random samples of the coins, though with improved processes,
the process is more ritual than necessary.
Bill Would Allow US Mint Marks
The Evening Independent - Feb 25, 1967
Representative Frank Annunzio of Illinois introduced a bill that would allow the Mint to re-instate the "D" mint
mark which disappeared on the coins after 1964.
Coin Collector's Corner
Schenectady Gazette - Mar 16, 1967
The column provides a simple and concise discussion of Mint Marks.
Coin Collector's Corner
Schenectady Gazette - Mar 23, 1967
The minting of coins is one of the world's biggest manufacturing enterprises, and the US Mint is one of the
largest. In 1876, the Congress authorized the Mint to make coins for other countries. Venezuela, the first
customer, ordered two million 2.5 centavo coins and ten million one centeave coins. Though no longer, the
Netherlands East Indies,
the largest customer, ordered 1.7 billion coins between 1941 and 1946. For example, the mint produced Polish
zlotys, French francs, Saudi riyals, Syrian piastres and Siamese satangs. The Mint placed mint marks on these coins
similar to those on US coinage.
US Moves to Prevent Coin Shortage
The Telegraph-Herald - Jun 1, 1967
The Treasury decided to keep the Philadelphia Mint running around the clock for five days per week. With the silver
shortage, they worried that people would remove the silver coins from circulation. There were not yet enough of the
cupronickel coins to satisfy the nation's needs. At least for a time beginning in 1967, it was
illegal to melt or export silver coins.
Hungry Sidewalk Bandits Drain On US Mint
The Phoenix - Jun 29, 1967
Starting with tongue-in-cheek, the article claims the mints withstood fire, earthquake and rebellion but were
almost brought to their knees by the parking meters and vending machines. At a high level, the origination of the
mints and President Washington's contribution of family tableware for the first minted coins are outlined. In their
history, the article described the rise and fall of the gold and silver mints along with the San Francisco Mint's
importance after the 1906 earthquake. With progress, the new Philadelphia Mint's automated processes will turn out
10,000 coins a minute.
Silver Dollar Trading Planned By Exchange
The Miami News - Aug 3, 1967
The New York Mercantile Exchange announced it would start spot trading silver dollars on Aug 21. One contract will
be for uncirculated silver dollars and one for circulated. Both contracts will be for either Peace or Morgan
"common date" silver dollars. The $1000 face value coins will be loose in a canvas bag like those used by the US
Mint.
US Melting Silver Coins
The Evening Independent - Nov 10, 1967
The Treasury Department confirmed their plans to melt regular silver (90% silver) coins minted before 1965 starting
at the end of the year (1967). Since removing the ceiling on silver prices, the government wanted to control
speculation with the metal. By October, the Mint had collected 150 million ounces through old coins. But, there was
no plan for the Mint to keep records of which coins would be melted making the numismatic hobby more
challenging.
Production Slowed But Not Halted - US to Continue Minting Kennedy Halves
Schenectady Gazette - Nov 11, 1967
Per the Mint Director, they have slowed the production of the Kennedy half dollars. The coins are not readily found
in circulation and rationing still occurs through the Federal Reserve Banks. Some think the hoarding of the halves
is due to the likeness of the late President Kennedy. Others think people keep them for their silver content, being
the only coin minted for circulation with any silver content. Another theory is people don't circulate them due to
their size and weight. But, according to the Mint Director, the coins will continue to be minted.
White House Wedding Nearing
Daytona Beach Morning Journal - Dec 2, 1967
Lynda Bird Johnson's wedding to Charles Robb would be at the White House the following weekend. Though recently
from Wisconsin, Charles Robb's family originated in Virginia. His great-grandfather was the last Secretary of the
Treasury for the Confederacy. His maternal grandfather, Robert Wickliffe Woolley, was a director of the US
Mint.
The 1967 Special Mint Set Year included news about mint marks, coin shortages, silver coins and the circulation
of the Kennedy half dollar coins.
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