What Does the Term Specimen Coin Mean?
Mints produce specimen coins to highlight what a coin or series of coins will look like. Specimen coins, like specimen notes, are produced to demonstrate how a new design or issue will look.
The term, specimen coins can be used to describe early issues of U.S. Mint coins that display brilliant fields, bold strikes, and semi-frosted devices. Modern United States coins produced with unusual finished like a matte finish have also been called specimen coins.
Since they represent a new issue or design, specimen coins are specially struck and often struck multiple times. This results in an image with greater detail for presentation and archival uses.
Are Specimen Coins Valuable?
Depending on its rarity, condition, and collectible demand, a specimen coin could be valuable. Specimen coins of specific varieties, with greater historic richness, are prized and valued highly by members of the numismatic community.
How Do I Know if My Coin is a Specimen Coin?
Some specimen coins are labeled with SP after they have been graded by NGC or PCGS. If your coin does not have this, determining whether it is a specimen can be challenging. While specimen coins are struck with greater care and attention to detail than circulation coins, there is no standard for specimen coins.
