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What Is the Difference between a 1975-S Proof Set with No S and a 1975-S Proof Set?

The San Francisco Mint did not always produce U.S. proof sets only; up until 1974, it still produced some coins for general circulation -- just like the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. By 1975, however, the San Francisco Mint began producing nothing but proof sets for collection. The 1975-S set had a very rare anomaly; two to five such sets had dimes stamped without the "S."

Appearance
- The difference between a 1975-S proof set with no "S" mint mark and a standard 1975-S proof set is the Roosevelt dime. Owing to die stamping errors, a few dimes in this proof set were stamped without the "S" mint mark. The mint mark is very small, and appears on the obverse of the dime, to the right of and slightly above the date.
Value
- The no-S Roosevelt dime is one of the rarest errors in U,S, mintage. Only two known instances of the no-S dime are known to exist, and neither of these has been seen by the major coin grading companies. The value of the standard 1975 U.S. set is approximately $15.00; a legitimate no-S proof set could be the most expensive and valuable coins in U.S. coin collecting history.
The Other Distinguishing Feature
- The 1975 U.S. proof set is also notable as the only proof set to include coins of another year. Due to the approaching Bicentennial, the quarter, half dollar, and Eisenhower dollar are all stamped with the dates 1776-1976. Therefore, both the 1975 and 1976-S proof sets feature the same quarter, half dollar and Eisenhower dollar.
Potential Fraud
- Throughout coin collecting history, skillful craftsmen have attempted to pass off altered coins as exceptional "error" coins. The very small Roosevelt dime "S" mint mark can easily be removed. Due to the extreme rarity of the genuine error, a fraudulent 1975 Roosevelt proof dime would raise an instant suspicion among both coin dealers and experienced collectors.

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