The United States Mint did not make traditional proof sets from 1965 through 1967.
Instead, the Philadelphia Mint produced Special Mint Sets for collectors.
These coins received a better strike than regular pocket change, but they were not standard proofs.
No mint mark appears on this 1967 Lincoln cent, which was standard for the era.
Most pieces from these sets came with a smooth, satin-like surface across the whole coin.
Only a tiny fraction left the dies with heavy frost on the raised details and deep reflection in the fields.
That stark visual contrast earned this piece a rare Deep Cameo designation.
A certified example of this coin brought $3,360 at a major public sale.
Heritage Auctions handled the transaction in June of 2018.
Professional Coin Grading Service examined the coin and assigned it a grade of SP-65 Deep Cameo.
The "SP" prefix stands for Special Strike, which applies to Special Mint Set coins.
A grade of 65 means the coin is well-struck with only minor surface marks or light imperfections.
Reaching a top price like this requires independent grading to verify both the condition and the contrast.
A typical circulated cent from 1967 will not sell for anything near this record price.
Nearly all 1967 SMS pennies have a uniform, semi-reflective shine with no real contrast.
The Mint did not polish the dies as aggressively as they did for standard proof sets.
Finding a 1967 cent with thick, frosty portraits and pitch-black mirror fields is exceptionally difficult.
The crossover between an SMS strike and a true Deep Cameo look is what creates the value.
Lincoln cent specialists actively compete for these standout visual pieces to complete high-end registry sets.
Because so few dies produced this level of contrast in 1967, the supply remains tiny compared to the demand.
Start by checking the date on the front of the coin for the year 1967.
Make sure there is no mint mark below the date, since Philadelphia struck these sets without one.
Look at the coin under a good direct light source using a 5x or 10x jeweler's loupe.
Inspect the bust of Abraham Lincoln and the lettering on the front.
These raised parts should appear snowy white or heavily frosted.
The flat background areas should look dark and reflective, like a clean glass mirror.
If the frost covers the entire surface evenly, you are looking at a normal SMS coin rather than a Deep Cameo.
If you have trouble telling the surfaces apart, you can scan the piece with Coin Value Checker or CoinKnow to get a quick initial opinion on its variety.
Remember that a coin needs full certification from a major grading service to officially carry the Deep Cameo label.
A quick photo scan beats manual lookup most days — see our roundup of the best free coin identifier apps options.
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