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 Replies: 18 / Views: 11,641 |
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New Member
 United States
26 Posts |
Alright how about SP grades where do they fall and what constitutes a SP rather than a MS?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
I've never heard of SP grades before today. Here is another thread on it: https://goccf.com/t/74140It mainly applies to Canadian coins and not US. Site some examples on where you have heard this in the US? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
SP= Specimen. Specimen strikes have a quality that falls between business strike and proof strike. The term is not typically used for US coins but the best example would be the Special Mint Set issues from the 1960s, not proofs but certainly much nicer than the vast majority of business strikes. |
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
That is SF though. I think the seller has a typo or something he just made up. To me it sounds like SF or SP was made up fairly recently, since burnished coins have been around a very long time. And specimen means a test or pattern item. It isn't a grade. This forum is for Modern US coins and not foreign. Edited by wquinn
02/22/2012 12:01 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
Kinda like XF and EF for "extra-fine", same-same.
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
That makes sense. It is something PCGS made up to differentiate the business strikes from the burnished ones. Thanks for the examples. Is the latest ANA Grading Guide updated to show these new names/grades? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
Still kind of confusing on why they say SP and not SF though. I guess SF can mean San Francisco, so they didn't want to get it confused with that.
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Moderator
 United States
189603 Posts |
Quote:
Kinda like XF and EF for "extra-fine", same-same. Exactly what I was thinking when I read the OP. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
I can see XF and EF, since there is an E and an X in Extra Fine, but what does the P stand for in Satin Finish? Or maybe it is pronounced as Spatin Finish, but spelt with an invisible P?  I don't see a P in there at all. I was thinking of PCGS? Okay, here is the scoop: http://www.pcgs.com/nogrades.htmlQuote:
Specimen (SP) -- struck well like a Proof, but with a satiny, sometimes matte, semi-granular looking But that is wrong, because they aren't specimens. It is using their own terminology, which conflicts with existing terminology. Figures PCGS can't do anything right.  Like what they call Specimen notes: http://minterrornews.com/discoverie...men_set.htmlEdited by wquinn
02/22/2012 2:37 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
My whole argument is that if the US Mint doesn't call them specimens, but matte, then that is what they should have been called in the first place and not make something up.
I see a lot of other countries use the word specimen and maybe that is where they got it, but still that is not a good enough argument.
Why go against what the US Mint calls it?
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
I guess to have a "complete" set of Louisiana Purchase nickels I am gonna need the 04-06 PF, MS (P&D), and SP (P&D. I don't think there are any SP 2004 because the mint wasn't doing the satin finish that year....correct me if am wrong.  |
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Moderator
United States
189603 Posts |
Correct, Satin Finish started in 2005. It really bothers me that the change occurred in the middle of both the Westward Journey Nickels and Statehood Quarters. |
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 11,641 |
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First Page
Posted 02/22/2012 10:32 am
