First Strike is a designation used by third-party coin grading services, like PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service), to denote coins submitted for grading and certification within a specific timeframe of the coin’s official release.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Focus on Early Release: The term primarily signifies that a coin was among the first delivered to the grading service following its release by the mint, often within the first 30 days.
- Not Necessarily the “First Struck”: It’s crucial to understand that “First Strike” doesn’t guarantee the coin was literally the first one off the production line. Instead, it refers to the early delivery and submission to a grading service, according to CoinValues.com and [Wikipedia] . The U.S. Mint doesn’t track coins in this manner.
- Marketing Tool: The “First Strike” designation is primarily a marketing tool used by grading services to add perceived value and desirability to modern coins, according to CoinValues.com and [Wikipedia].
- Similar Designations: Other grading services, like NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation), use similar terms such as “Early Releases” or “First Releases,” which are interchangeable in their meaning.
- Value and Appeal: While First Strike coins don’t possess inherently different physical attributes, they often carry a premium in the numismatic market due to their perceived rarity and the assurance of professional grading.
In essence, a First Strike coin is a professionally graded coin that was submitted for certification early in its release, making it more appealing to collectors interested in these “early bird” examples.
How to identify first strike coin?
I can help with that. First Strike coins usually receive one of two top grades: MS-69 or MS-70 (PR-69 and PR-70 for graded proof coins). Coin grading services rely on the 70-point, internationally accepted Sheldon Coin Grading Scale. The Sheldon Scale ranges from 1 to 70, and the final score indicates a coin’s condition and quality.
Are First Strike coins more valuable?
Great question! Investors and collectors value Silver Eagles for their silver content, historical significance, and aesthetic appeal. Among the various Silver Eagle classifications is the coveted “First Strike” designation, which can be more valuable because of its higher demand.
What makes a coin first strike?
PCGS uses the First Strike term and this applies to coins delivered to be graded in the first 30 days of issue, noting that the coins were made at least in the first 30 days of the issue date. If you have coins in sealed Mint boxes, you can often have these graded First Strike as well.
What is the difference between first strike and first release coins?
First Strike coins from the U.S. Mint are really “coins of early or first release.” The final sentence drives the nail home: A general term for these coins is first strikes. The conclusion: First Strike coins are simply “early or first release” coins. First Strike may or may not be the first coins from a set of dies.