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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,994 |
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Valued Member
United States
314 Posts |
So, still a newbie but learning.. In looking at "slabbed coins" that I see listed, I sometimes see them listed as "First Strike". I went to try to find out what this means and found this article: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/...trike-coins/So, based on this article, I am a bit more confused then ever.. Does this designation really mean anything from a collectors or value perspective? Just interested in everyone's thoughts here... Thanks. Michael |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
As the guy at my local shop said, "It's all marketing." The slabbers can give that label to any coin delivered to them within 30 days from the release date, or in original, sealed mint packaging indicating that it was delivered in the same time period. But some coins can be produced months in advance of release, and dies can wear quickly/early or be replaced with fresh ones after the 30-day "first strike" period. It would be more appropriate to call them "early releases", as it has nothing to do with the actual strike or the quality thereof. Consider the 2016 gold Mercury dime, which sold out on its first day. Technically, all of them would qualify for "first strike", but they had been in production for a long time prior to their availability. Some people will go for the label, and the scarcity of the label may add value to people who care about that sort of thing. But for the value of the coin itself, nah. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7631 Posts |
"First Strike" doesn't mean diddly squat.
It's just a marketing gimmick. Just like a new car that has a "limited edition" chrome plate stuck to the back end. It's only limited by how many they can sell!
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
"Buy The Coin Not The Slab" John1  |
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Valued Member
 United States
314 Posts |
Ok.. thanks.. that was the impression I was getting from the article, but you definitely confirmed it...
Michael
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4594 Posts |
Pure BS...
Coin sells out in 12 minutes - everyone is a 1st strike... so what.
Coin sells out (or doesn't) in 6 months... how do you know which ones on the palet were first?
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Despite anyone's personal feelings on them do some market research on your own for them. You will see there are many issues where it does make a difference value wise the question is just what kind of premium it brings.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2403 Posts |
Quote:
"Buy The Coin Not The Slab" While all the other info is great this is the best advice you could get. Buy coins you can afford and you would be happy to own. The slab is a bonus. On Silver Eagles, most coin shops won't pay a premium for them if you wanted to sell some in the future. Edit: I should add this applies to Bullion Coins only. Edited by MontCollector
04/07/2017 3:16 pm
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Valued Member
United States
467 Posts |
I agree with "buy the coin, not the slab" for the most part.
However, if the question is whether an MS70 First Strike is better/means more than one that is not-- buying the coin is not really applicable. Or at least not for me...I have trouble distinguishing which coin is better between to 70 graded coins.
When it comes down to labels-- sometimes I am willing to pay a small premium more for certain labels. The funny thing is-- I will pay slightly more for ones that do NOT say First Strike.
For instance, I am collecting a set of PCGS MS69 and PR69 Modern Commemorative $1. The only label I want is blue label.
I don't want any other label except a blue label in this collection.
Fortunately, I don't have to settle for buying the coin, not the label and have a label I hate (such as First Strike) in my collection in order to have the better coin. There are thousands of MS and PR 69's out there with blue labels.
But for someone who did like First Strike labels and wanted a consistent collection of only First Strike slabbed coins of a series-- who am I to fault them?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
A First Strike or Early Release is really meaningless and shouldn't affect the value at all. HOWEVER, a lot of collectors will chase these thing s and pay a premium for them. Why? I have no idea.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,994 |
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Posted 04/03/2017 4:21 pm
