What is meant by "Specimen"?

MSD61

Could some please explain to me what is meant by a specimen coin or specimen coin set? I've seen this term but really don't know what it means.

Thanks!
Micheál

MacCrimmon

For Swiss coins it simply refers to a special 'first striking' from highly polished dies (generally, these Specimens were minted in very limited numbers for banks, museums, and collectors prior to WWII). The blanks were also specially burnished. Of note, is that the fields while mirrored will have very tiny but numerous die-polishing on some issues.

wybrit

For British Coins it was essentially the first strikes of a new coinage. For example, 1887, 1893, 1902, 1911, 1937 and 1953 were dates for specimen sets commemorating new obverses (or new monarchs). The 1927 set simply marked the new reverse designs for George V coins. All of these sets are considered proof sets.

Cruzi

For Australian Coins it means it was struck at higher than normal pressures with lightly polished planchets and dies. with much more care taken during manufacture.

MyWorldCoinTypeSet

For Canadian coins up to 1953 and in 1964 / 1965, it's for coins struck at higher than normal pressures with specially prepared planchets and dies. with much more care taken during manufacture.

For Canadian coins after 1971, it's for sets of coins that are specially packaged, and are often higher quality than business strikes.

shirohniichan

The RCM makes it more difficult for collectors by making "prooflike" coins, specimens, and proofs.

According to Charlton, "Specimen coins are usually double struck, with very sharp details and square edges, but are not of the same superlative quality as Proofs. Before 1973, the Royal Canadian Mint did not have the equipment sufficient to strike Proof coins" (Canadian Coins, 58th Edition, p. 235).

1971 and later specimens usually have an even mirror surface and not frost. 1981 and later proofs have heavy frost on the devices, so they are easy to distinguish from specimens.

newsman

What about the 1967 Canadian coins? Which ones are prooflike and which are specimens?

MyWorldCoinTypeSet

This is the Specimen Set and this is the Prooflike Set. Note that the Specimen Set comes with either the $20 Gold coin or a Silver medallion.

shirohniichan

Sometimes it isn't so easy to distinguish a prooflike centennial coin from a specimen. Fortunately there isn't much of a price spread between them, so if you accidentally buy a PL as an SP you won't lose your shirt.

The cases for the centennial $20 specimen sets will tone the silver coins until they are black. One easy way to tell specimen coins from those sets is by their dark blue or black toning.

lordmarcovan

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Why, did somebody ask you for a specimen?

SYRACUSIAN

lordmarcovan

(Sorry, couldn't resist that opening. Off to bed, now.)