A Satin Finish Specimen from the Inaugural Year of Special Mint Sets

This listing offers a remarkable and highly collectible piece of modern American numismatics. It is a 2005-P Kansas State Quarter, officially certified by the Independent Coin Graders, or ICG, at the prestigious SP69, or Specimen 69, grade. This coin features a distinctive satin finish and is part of a complete 22-coin P&D set, certified as number 013 of 999. The coin is encapsulated in a clear protective ICG slab with a label indicating "First Strike Coin – Satin Finish" and "Inaugural Year Satin Finish Specimen coins."

Historical Context: The 2005 Satin Finish Special Mint Sets

In 2005, the United States Mint introduced a new type of collector product: the Special Mint Set, which featured coins with a special Satin Finish. These coins were not intended for circulation and were sold exclusively to collectors by the United States Mint. The satin finish was created using sandblasted dies and burnished coin blanks, giving the coins a distinctive, less reflective appearance. The Satin Finish strikes were better struck than regular circulation coins, with most examples grading between MS67 and SP69. The United States Mint produced these Satin Finish coins from 2005 through 2012.

The 2005 Special Mint Sets included a total of 22 coins from both the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, featuring the Lincoln Cent, Jefferson Nickel with both the Ocean in View and American Bison designs, Roosevelt Dime, all five Statehood Quarters, Kennedy Half Dollar, and Sacagawea Dollar. This coin comes from that complete 22-coin collection and is certified as number 013 of a limited 999-piece set.

The Kansas State Quarter: A Tribute to the Sunflower State

The Kansas quarter was the thirty-fourth coin released in the United States Mint's popular 50 State Quarters Program. Kansas was admitted into the Union on January 29, 1861, as the thirty-fourth state. The quarter was officially unveiled at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson on September 9, 2005, with United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore and Governor Kathleen Sebelius participating in the ceremony.

The reverse design features a bison, or American buffalo, standing near a patch of sunflowers, two of the state's most beloved symbols. The bison is the state animal of Kansas and is closely linked to the American West. The sunflower is the state flower and the basis of Kansas's nickname, the Sunflower State. The design also includes a cluster of three sunflowers and the inscription KANSAS 1861.

Design and Specifications

The obverse, designed by John Flanagan, features a right-facing portrait of George Washington, a design used on the quarter since 1932. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and QUARTER DOLLAR appear on the periphery, with LIBERTY on the left and IN GOD WE TRUST on the right. The reverse, designed by Norman E. Nemeth, features a bison and a cluster of three sunflowers with the inscriptions KANSAS and 1861.

Product Specifications

Denomination: 25 Cents, Quarter Dollar
Year: 2005
Mint: Philadelphia, P mint mark
Grade: SP69
Certification: ICG
Strike Type: Specimen, Satin Finish
State: Kansas
Admission to Union: January 29, 1861, 34th State
Release Date: September 9, 2005
Designer, Obverse: John Flanagan
Designer, Reverse: Norman E. Nemeth
Composition: 75 percent Copper, 25 percent Nickel over Copper Core
Weight: 5.67 grams
Diameter: 24.3 millimeters
Edge: Reeded
Satin Finish Mintage: 1,160,000 pieces
Set Number: 013 of 999

Understanding the SP69 Designation

SP, or Specimen, indicates a specially produced coin with a unique satin finish, distinct from both business strikes, or MS, and proofs, or PR. The 2005 Satin Finish coins are officially designated as Specimen strikes. The 69 grade indicates a near-perfect coin with exceptional eye appeal and virtually no visible imperfections under magnification. SP69 is among the highest grades, with only SP70 specimens ranking higher.

This coin has been authenticated and graded by ICG, or Independent Coin Graders. It is securely encapsulated in a protective slab and certified as number 013 of a 999-piece First Strike 22-coin P&D set, making it a low-numbered example from a limited production run. The label confirms it as an Inaugural Year Satin Finish Specimen coin.

Why This Coin Deserves a Place in Your Collection

This coin carries certified authenticity and grade, as the ICG slab provides expert verification of the coin's genuineness and near-perfect SP69 grade. It features a unique finish, with the satin finish being a distinctive Special Mint Set issue, different from both regular circulation strikes and brilliant proofs. It is an inaugural year issue, as 2005 was the first year the United States Mint produced Satin Finish Special Mint Sets. It features a historic design with the Sunflow

• Low Estimate: 1000.00
• High Estimate: 3500.00