SMS (65-67) - What's Difference Between SP-67 & MS-67?

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 8,125
oih82w8 Pillar of the Community United States 7840 Posts	Posted 06/19/2013 3:44 pm I am assembling my birth year set of PCGS coinage and I recently discovered that I have a MS67 Cameo and a SP67 Cameo coin so far. I realize that SP stands for Specimen Strike, but what is the difference? These two have the same PCGS Number (85999) and trends value. The labels seem to be different generations (content-wise). Report this Post to the Staff

BadThad Bedrock of the Community United States 19944 Posts	Posted 06/19/2013 5:34 pm SP indicates it came from the "Special Mint Set" (SMS). No proof sets were made for those years, instead, the Mint made these and they are "proof like". Lincoln Cent Lover! VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/ Report this Post to the Staff
yotie Pillar of the Community United States 3077 Posts	Posted 06/19/2013 8:01 pm I wonder when did PCGS start to use the SM grade because I find it funny that a coin has a CAM added to a MS grade Report this Post to the Staff
dave700x Rest in Peace United States 10625 Posts	Posted 06/19/2013 8:17 pm If they are both from the special mint set, the grade nomenclature would be a matter of semantics? Edited by dave700x 06/19/2013 8:17 pm Report this Post to the Staff
oih82w8 Pillar of the Community United States 7840 Posts	Posted 06/20/2013 08:11 am Quote: SP indicates it came from the "Special Mint Set" (SMS). Both of these examples are from Special Mint Sets (SMS), yet there are two different grading designations. That is my question, what makes them different in the eyes of PCGS? Edited by oih82w8 06/20/2013 08:11 am Report this Post to the Staff
biokemist6 Bedrock of the Community United States 12437 Posts	Posted 06/20/2013 11:28 am Same coin type, the only difference is semantics with the use of MS vs. SP. The slab labels are also from different generations, I am pretty sure that the one without the Series: and Coin: is the older of the two. Report this Post to the Staff
cc99999 Pillar of the Community United States 1302 Posts	Posted 06/20/2013 4:29 pm SP replaced MS for the grading purposes of these coins. Just as you will see satin finish 2005 and up mint set coins with MS labels. PCGS changed the designation to avoid confusing these pieces with real circulation strikes. for the 2005 and later dates BEWARE of dealers trying to pass off common MS-68 or MS-69 certified Satin Finish coins as business strikes. They aren't supposed to. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 6 / Views: 8,125

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