$50 gold burnished Eagles: Why are they now graded "Specimen - 70" instead of their former "MS-70"?

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apollo14
apollo14 Posts: 146 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Why the change in grading designation from "MS-70" to "Specimen-70" for burnished gold eagles? This seems to have occurred in just the last year or two.

Thanks!

David

Comments

  • RogerB
    RogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Why are they called "specimen?" IS someone trying to hype the "value" by calling them something perceived as special?

  • derryb
    derryb Posts: 38,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Because they are struck on special burnished blanks?

    Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. - Bastiat

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,062 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    They did the same things with the EU sets

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • Goldbully
    Goldbully Posts: 18,559 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    From the PCGS Website on grading standards.........................no modern definition out there?

  • ChrisH821
    ChrisH821 Posts: 7,152 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I mean, SMS coins are SP as well. Seems like sort of a catch-all.

    Collector, occasional seller

  • apollo14
    apollo14 Posts: 146 ✭✭✭
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    Here is what I am referring to:

    https://coins.ha.com/itm/modern-bullion-coins/us-bullion-coins/2015-w-50-one-ounce-gold-eagle-first-strike-burnished-sp70-pcgs-pcgs-population-316-ngc-census-828-/a/1258-8559.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515

  • RogerB
    RogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @apollo14 said:
    Here is what I am referring to:

    https://coins.ha.com/itm/modern-bullion-coins/us-bullion-coins/2015-w-50-one-ounce-gold-eagle-first-strike-burnished-sp70-pcgs-pcgs-population-316-ngc-census-828-/a/1258-8559.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515

    Garbage. Meaningless hype to scam the foolish. (...and, they weren't made prior to 1817, like the "grading standards" state,)

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Hype-a-doodle-doo..... Just one more gimmick...Much like detergents...New, Improved, New and Improved.... never ending cycle.....Cheers, RickO

  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,175 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    :-(

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • derryb
    derryb Posts: 38,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Note that the Mint's description of the 2018 W version no longer mentions the word "burnished."

    Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. - Bastiat

  • apollo14
    apollo14 Posts: 146 ✭✭✭
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    Would PCGS care to step into this discussion, and help us to understand your change in designation?

    Thank you!

  • apollo14
    apollo14 Posts: 146 ✭✭✭
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    ttt

  • derryb
    derryb Posts: 38,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    We need an "ask the graders" forum.

    Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. - Bastiat

  • apollo14
    apollo14 Posts: 146 ✭✭✭
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    ttt

  • Timbuk3
    Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    ;) !!!

    Timbuk3
  • coinsarefun
    coinsarefun Posts: 21,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 18, 2018 7:08PM
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    2008-W $5 Burnished Gold Eagle SP70

    From CoinFacts, at bottom page of my coin.

    Expert Comments
    Jaime Hernandez

    In 2008 the U.S. Mint offered three different versions of Gold Eagle coins. It offered the regular Mint State and Proof coins as it does mostly every year. However, in 2008 it also offered an Unburnished 2008-W Uncirculated Eagle for all four different denominations in the Gold Eagle series. Therefore, the Mint offered a $5, $10, $25 and $50 2008-W as well as the regular Proof and other Uncirculated non W mint mark Gold Eagles. Additionally, the Mint also offered several different 2008 Gold Buffalos. Giving collectors many different gold coins to choose from.

    Due to the different gold coins being offered this year, mintages dropped for many of the gold coins including for the $5 2008-W Gold Eagles. Sales were very low for this issue that these coins have a very low mintage for the series.

    Issue Date: April 01, 2012

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  • jmski52
    jmski52 Posts: 24,011 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 19, 2018 4:07AM
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    The above explanation/description is incorrect. The Mint did offer a Burnished 2008-W Uncirculated Gold Eagle, and "someone" promoted it that way. Burnished. That's what we bought. That was in fact the explanation of the type of finish that was given for several years.

    Not Unburnished as state above.

    A real explanation of the term was never detailed by the Mint, as far as I know. The grading services were all on their own and they came up with their own approaches as to the terminology. I wish we could someday get an explanation from the Mint (and/or the grading services) about where the term came from and why it keeps changing.

    Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

    I knew it would happen.
  • RogerB
    RogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Are they now slabbed in little plastic cups with lids and a place for your name? :)

  • derryb
    derryb Posts: 38,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    According to APMEX:

    "Numismatists use the term burnished to describe the coins’ unique finish. Burnished coins appear matte and less shiny when compared to a standard bullion coin. This is the result of polishing the blanks before they are struck. Some collectors believe burnishing adds longevity to the design."

    Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. - Bastiat

  • Smudge
    Smudge Posts: 10,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 19, 2018 2:36PM
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    Matte is the result of polishing?

  • RogerB
    RogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    "Burnish" means to polish or smooth by rubbing, especially with a polished, hard steel tool.

    It does not seem to have any relationship to the appearance of coins the US Mint once called "burnished," and nothing to do with Apmex's definition.

  • Smudge
    Smudge Posts: 10,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thanks for that definition. Makes more sense than Apmex, but that is to be expected.

  • apollo14
    apollo14 Posts: 146 ✭✭✭
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    ....but, again, getting back to my original question, why the change from "MS" to "Specimen"? And what, exactly, does "Specimen" mean?

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