PCGS Specimen (Sp) Designation Timeline

The designation itself has existed long before PCGS was around... I know that they were using it from the get-go when they launched in 1986 to identify certain very early US special strikes. They were using it from the beginning of their Canadian coin grading when they began in 1989, because we call all of our special strike/pre Elizabeth proof coins specimens..its just something that stuck over here.

Specimen is something they like to pull out for a coin that is obviously specially produced but may not have the characteristics of a full proof or may not have any supporting documentation or circumstantial evidence as to why it may have been produced in a special strike format.

I know, none of this directly relates to australian coins, but I figured I'd share what I do know... If you encountered an Australian coin that they graded specimen, the odds are that it was graded before they had their terminology down pat for you guys or it was applied to a coin which they're not familiar with in proof but which they recognized is of a special nature in its production quality.

I would be particularly interested to hear from anyone who has good, supported knowledge of pre-decimal specimen Australian silver coinage.