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-D Minnesota Statehood 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 first strike 22-coin P&D set, certified as number 012 of 999. The coin is encapsulated in a clear protective slab with ICG certification labels.

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. The satin finish was created by sandblasting blanks prior to striking, which resulted in coins with frosted, less reflective surfaces. The 2005 Mint Set included a total of 22 different coins from both the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, featuring the Lincoln Cent, Westward Journey Nickels, Roosevelt Dime, State Quarters, Kennedy Half Dollar, and Sacagawea Dollar. The Satin Finish strikings were better struck than regular circulation coins, with most examples ranging from MS67 to SP69 condition.

Historical Context: The Minnesota State Quarter

The Minnesota quarter was the thirty-second coin released in the United States Mint's popular 50 State Quarters Program. It was officially released on April 4, 2005, and celebrates Minnesota's admission into the Union on May 11, 1858.

The reverse design features a tree-lined lake with two people fishing, a loon on the water, and a textured outline of the state surrounding its nickname, Land of 10,000 Lakes. The United States Mint describes this as the first 50 States Quarter that celebrates fishing. The inscription is actually an understatement, as Minnesota contains more than 15,000 such bodies of water, with total shoreline exceeding 90,000 miles, more than California, Hawaii, and Florida combined.

Design and Specifications

The obverse, designed by John Flanagan, features the portrait of George Washington, a design used on the quarter since 1932. The reverse design features two people fishing on a lake, a loon, the state bird, and a textured outline of the state surrounding its nickname.

Product Specifications

Denomination: 25 Cents, Quarter Dollar
Year: 2005
Mint: Denver, D mint mark
Grade: SP69
Certification: ICG
Strike Type: Specimen, Satin Finish
State: Minnesota
Release Date: April 4, 2005
Admission to Union: May 11, 1858, 32nd State
Designer, Obverse: John Flanagan
Composition: Outer layers of 75 percent Copper and 25 percent Nickel over a pure Copper center
Weight: 5.67 grams
Diameter: 24.3 millimeters
Edge: Reeded
Set Number: 012 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.

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 012 of a 999-piece First Strike 22-coin P&D set, making it a low-numbered example from a limited production run.

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 Land of 10,000 Lakes design celebrating Minnesota's natural beauty and fishing heritage. Most of all, it carries a limited edition pedigree, as this is number 012 of only 999 sets, a low-numbered example from a scarce limited edition.

This coin is more than currency. It is a satin finish specimen from the inaugural year of Special Mint Sets, offering a near-perfect Minnesota State Quarter in a low-numbered limited edition. For the discerning collector, it represents a truly significant and desirable acquisition.

The a

• Low Estimate: 250.00
• High Estimate: 500.00