Googled it
A" rivets are "soft". They are fabricated from 1100-grade aluminum and have a tensile strength of 16,000 PSI. "AD" rivets are fabricated from 2117 aluminum and heat treated to the T4 condition. They have a shear strength of 26,000 PSI and a tensile strength of 38,000 PSI. Prices below are for 1lb. quantities. Minimum order of 1/8 lb. (use qty .13). All rivets can be purchased in 1/4 lb. (use qty .25) and 1/8 lb. (use qty .13) packages. AN470 (MS20470) AN426 (MS20426).
Also, the "A" rivets have a smooth plain top surface, while the
"AD" rivets have that handy dimple.
Dave
With respect, I don't think that's what the OP is asking about.
The soft rivets would be AN426A4-6 vs AN426AD4-6
Per the spec (both AN426 and the MS20426 that supersedes it) the second A in MS20426AD4-6A (or as we're used to seeing it,AN426AD4-6A) basically indicates clear anodizing vs. alodining (chromate conversion coating).
Honestly I'd never noticed references to finish codes on these before. The performance is likely interchangeable for our purposes and I suspect that everyone has long been supplying/using anodized rivets instead of the alodined ones out of toxicity concerns anyway (the Type II anodizing is sulfuric acid, not chromic acid).