What's The Difference Between PF67 & SP-67?

one is Proof , one is Specimen ..

*** Staff edit: Thanks for that Captain Obvious. If you are not willing to make the effort to help teach our new members, then don't post at all. ***

A Specimen strike looks different than a Proof strike even if both are 67s. Both look different than a circulation strike. MS-67 (Circulation strike) is priced in my Charlton at more than either SP-67 or PR-67.

There is no reason that coins of different strike should be priced the same, because there were different numbers made and available, and there is a different demand.

Buy the whole set for about $20 US with the SILVER dollar. The 25 cents is only nickel and should be easily had for under $5.

Keep in mind that in 1986 these were mass-produced for sale to collectors.

Depending on the grading service used, most coins straight from the sets in this era would get a 66 or 67 (and keep in mind that Coinmart is not a third-party grading service).

Hope this helps a bit.

Proof and Specimen, by themselves, are not grading terms, they describe a coin's method of manufacture. Each uses the a 70-point scale to describe the quality of a coin's surface.

Proof coins are struck from specially prepared and polished dies and planchets. The dies for traditional proof coinage are prepared such that the coin's primary devices (the coin's raised design elements) have a frosty or satiny appearance while the fields are given a mirror-like appearance. The high level of contrast between the two is generally described as a "Cameo effect" with different levels of contrast/cameo possible (the higher/deeper the cameo, the higher the desirability for many collectors and thus a higher price is often asked). Proof coins are generally struck two or more times to help create very sharp details on the coin; circulation coins are struck once.

While Specimen coins are also generally struck from specially prepared dies, they are not polished the same way as proof dies. A specimen coin has either an overall brilliant finish or brilliant devices with a matte background. The RCM has changed the appearance of its Specimen coins over the years, so one "catch all" definition is impossible. Specimen finish coins are generally struck twice to create sharper details vs. circulation coins.

Side-by-side, it should be able to easily tell the difference between the two finishes. Both can be very attractive, but a proof piece has the added bonus of the cameo effect.

Please note that I've made certain "general" statements and exceptions do exist to what I've said. Hopefully, however, my explanations will give you a start to understanding the differences between Proof and Specimen. Please feel free to ask additional questions.

Comments

Very informative explanation.