Question about SP as in specimen

Easycoinsales

Just a general question. WHY SP over PF or MS???
When a coin is consider for instance SP70 as an american eagle.
Why do the do that.
I guess I just dont understand what specimen means....


Sorry I know its kinda a lame topic but figured someone could give me the answer here..

Thanks in advance

stealer

<< <i>Just a general question. WHY SP over PF or MS???
When a coin is consider for instance SP70 as an american eagle.
Why do the do that.
I guess I just dont understand what specimen means....


Sorry I know its kinda a lame topic but figured someone could give me the answer here..

Thanks in advance >>


I don't know about SP being used for modern bullion but for the flowing hair, draped bust and capped bust series that had no proofs struck, they did sometimes strike specimen coins as presentation pieces or whatnot.

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i> guess I just dont understand what specimen means....
Sorry I know its kinda a lame topic but figured someone could give me the answer here.. >>



if you enjoy reading there are a few topics in the archives.

you are not the first to wonder that, and certainly won't be the last :-)
.

Easycoinsales

I cant really search the archives not an member currently. I think you have to be a member to search correct? Cause for some reason I always get an error message and cant go past page 25.

LindeDad

SP can and does also mean Special Process. Most of the moderns marked as such it means the coins were minted different that normal circulation coinage but not in the Proof process.

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>I cant really search the archives not an member currently. I think you have to be a member to search correct? Cause for some reason I always get an error message and cant go past page 25. >>



the archives here are accessible by members

you need to change your settings as I once did here
.

Easycoinsales

Whats this mean then?

The page you were accessing requires variables to be passed to it.

Error Code: 100

lkeigwin

<< <i>Whats this mean then?

The page you were accessing requires variables to be passed to it.

Error Code: 100 >>

The search function doesn't work with modern browsers. If you have an old one you can use that.
Lance.

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>Whats this mean then?

The page you were accessing requires variables to be passed to it.

Error Code: 100 >>



there are 2 ways to search the archives.

1. the search bar on this screen(category search) - sufficient most of the time
2. the advanced search (the one that only works with certain browser versions - needed when you want to get up to your knees in it :-)
.

LindeDad

Getting search to work is really a hard road to hoe if your lucky and have the right type of browser and if it is a one word search you might get lucky enough to find something.
But for most of us any more it's error city, just like preview and who is on.

CoinRaritiesOnline

<< <i>Whats this mean then?

The page you were accessing requires variables to be passed to it.

Error Code: 100 >>



I use Firefox on a Mac and I get the same message, and I do not have any idea what it means either.

Overdate

<< <i>SP can and does also mean Special Process. Most of the moderns marked as such it means the coins were minted different that normal circulation coinage but not in the Proof process.
>>


Most of the 2005-2010 "Satin Finish" coins from the annual mint sets are designated "SP".

determined

You could try a search using Google in Advanced mode. Then under "site or domain" put "forums.collectors.com". That often works for me.

When are they going to update this forum into the modern age? There is no other forum I go to, and I visit many, most of which are non-numismatic, that have this problem.

I even visit forums run and owned by individual people that are kept up to date. So it can't be that hard or expensive to to do so. Seriously.

EDIT: I clicked "Preview" to do a preview of my post to check how it looks. Nevermind, the Preview function still no longer works.

LochNESS

Re: Special Process... there are many darksides from the Franklin Mint that are SP grades because the FM issued three different strike varieties and these are neither business nor proof.

Re: Specimen Proof... again with darksides, this grade often goes to Essai and/or Probe strikes, sometimes patterns too. They are proofs, but only a tiny amount were made compared to the circulating versions, so they get Specimen grades. Specimen in this scenario just means rare or more rare than the circulating strike.

Analyst

EasyCoinSales: <<I guess I just don't understand what specimen means.>>

In regard to modern coins and to quite a few classic coins, the SP designation usually refers to a coin that is specially struck, often with a very much different finish, though is not a Proof. Usually, it was struck just once.

In regard to classic (pre-1934) coins, the issue, though, is more complicated. I have spent years thinking about it. Please read some relevant articles:

1839-O Liberty Seated Dime

Specimen 1853-O Eagle

Proof 1876-CC Dime - Auctioned 01/08