Added this specimen strike to my ever-growing collection of high mint state/proof Jefferson nickels. This particular area of my collection was feeling neglected, so in the last few months I added this and the 1994 P Specimen to it.
Trust me Detecto, I was wondering just the same, so if anybody can give us YNs the information on a "Specimen Strike" Nickel, it would be great. I know I saw one on an auction site, but Couldn't figure out what it was. So anybody who can enlighten us would be eternally known as "That Cool Guy who gave me information on something I didn't know" and we can all learn!
Specimens are like proof struck coins but unlike proofs, are only struck once with the specially prepared dies and planchets. Correct me if I'm wrong though.
1994 and 1997 specimen coins were only sold in special sets that came with commemorative coins. Only 25000 1997 nickels were made, these coins are not mirror like. Proof coins are mirror like.
The '94 and '97 nickels being referred to were specially manufactured for the coin and currency sets of the respective years, and only for those sets. They could not be obtained any other way. In order to set them apart from both the Proofs and business strikes they were given a matte finish. And the TPGs distinguish them in the slabs by labeling them SP (PCGS) and SMS (NGC).
In 1994 there was a Thomas Jefferson set issued that contained the 1994 nickel, a silver dollar commemorative of Jefferson and a $2 bill. In 1997, the US Botanic Garden "Coinage and Currency" set was issued containing the 1997 nickel, Botanical Garden silver dollar commemorative and a $1 bull.
No, 1994 nickel was part of set issued with Jefferson dollar and $2 bill. 1997 nickel is part of botanic garden set, sold with botanic dollar and $1 bill, it was sold out in days after release.
