Canadian coin experts

ajaan

How to tell the difference between early Canadian SP coins compared to MS coins?

Greenstang

Maybe this will help
Specimen which is sometime abbreviated as SPEC or just SP. Specimen coins were also minted for special mint sets but are different from PL coins in that the dies are specially finished to give the coins either a higher lustre or sometimes a specific matte finish, and the coins are double struck to give sharper images, normally higher sharper rims, and design meet the fields at a sharper angle. Specimens have been made since the beginning of Canadian coinage, and early sets were used for official government presentations, although in 1908, 1937 and 1967 sets were made for sale to collectors. Starting in 1971 specimen sets made to sell to collectors became a standard part of the mints product line, and such sets are today generally very common. Like proof coins, specimen coins were never intended to circulate so did not go through any of the standard mint handling systems that put bag marks on MS coins. Thus specimen coins are relatively mark free and start off in the SP-66 to SP-68 range. Compliments Calgary Coin