low mintage kennedy halfs

That is the same coin that was posted in pg 2 of this thread.

PCGS has merely changed the prefix from Mint State to SP which means Specimen strike.

First, I think we are using the same coin just as an example of just what coin we are talking about.

Secondly. PCGS does use SP for specimen coin. However, unlike NGC, PCGS also uses MS for the same type coin. So when buying SMS in 1998-S you're safe with PCGS, being either MS or SP but you must buy SP if going with NGC.
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I think the prices have been slowly coming down, I bought a couple sets from the mint when it first came out.

 

There seems to be a lot of ‘mis-information’ about the 1998-S Kennedy in this thread.

First, at PCGS “SP” stands for “Special Strike” not “specimen” on the labels.

Second, the mintage of the 1998-S Mattie is 62,350 +/-.

Third, to identify the 1998-S Mattie, people must first understand that the U.S. Mint made three types that year with the ‘S’ mintmark.
1. 1998-S Clad Proof
2. 1998-S Silver Proof
3. 1998-S Silver Mattie

If the coin you are looking at is dated 1998-S, silver and has no mirrors in the fields then strong chances are that it is the Silver Mattie.

The two major online Registries (NGC and PCGS) treat the 1998-S Silver Mattie different. To understand these differences, you have to first classify what the coin is which is where the ‘rub’ comes into play between NGC and PCGS. The 1998-S Silver Mattie was only issued from the U.S. Mint in a two coin Collectors Set consisting of an uncirculated Robert Kennedy Commemorative Silver Dollar and a Mattie finish silver Kennedy Half Dollar (the U.S. Mint never clarified if the Mattie finish silver half dollar was a proof or business strike).

NGC appears to be treating the 1998-S Mattie half dollar similar to the ‘Mattie Proofs” that the U.S. Mint made back in the early 1900’s by requiring the 1998-S Mattie in the basic proof set of the Registry.

PCGS treats the 1998-S Mattie half dollar as a ‘business strike’ coin in their Registry but for some reason only as a variety.

 

Secondly as I had to look it up, seems as though Caleb was also wrong or misleading about the SP designation. From the PCGS glossary:

Specimen: Term used to indicate special coins struck at the Mint . PCGS Uses the designation SP for these coins.

This is all a waste of time!

 

My post was and is accurate. I understand that your learning curve may be a bit off. There appears to be no sense trying to educate some that do not want to or able to handle the truth.

 

I'll accept that. Please tell me what you trying to educate me about. Apparently my post are inaccurate. Point ot where or sto wasting time. I'm a registed NGC coin dealer and would like to know of my specific misunderstandings.

 

If you are going to post a quote, instead of misleading people, post the entire quote

I do not believe that the 1998-S Mattie Kennedy half dollar was minted between 1792 – 1816.

If you wanted to know what PCGS had in mind for changing the MS designation to SP on coins that they labeled SMS or SF previously, then instead of assuming maybe you should have asked. My dad just happened to have an order into PCGS for ‘cross over” at the time of the change and he did ask. Below are the emails exchanges when the graders’ supervisor clear stated that ‘SP’ would stand for “Special Strike”. Here ends the lesson.

 

I think it's more important to the collector to know he has an expensive matte coin than to know it's a specimen, excuse me, a special. It's definitely a special coin and i think quite a specimen. Words are words, coin values are important.

 

I recently picked up one at a coin show PCGS SMS MS69. So I guess it was slabbed before then change of nomenclature. This was one of those buys that I was not planning on but I could not refuse. I have one in a mint set but not one slabbed. Around a $100 was what I paid. I was happy now to have two "King of the Kennedy's"