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MR2005, welcome to CT. I hope you stick around. There is a lot of great info on here.
To answer your question, the First Strike designation should not increase a coins value. The Frist Strike Issue is a third party creation to generate a greater interest/demand for a coin which some dealers than falsely increase the value for the coin. Typically, a third party determines the first strike designation based on the date that your package left the US mints warehouse. There are usually restrictions as to if your coin qualifies for the first strike designation. One of these usually requires you NOT to open the original package and send you package directly to them. Another one as stated usually requires a date time line. The US mint has even stated on their website that the designation "first strike" doesn't really exist. They do not keep track of what coins are minted first as all coins are usually lumped together in large groups or hoppers. The only real way to determine a "first strike" is if you are physically standing there picking out the first coins struck. I have never bought into the "First strike" or "Early Strike" designations since they were created solely to falsely create demand and therefore falsely increase the value of a coin. I wouldn't pay anything more for these coins and neither should you. Good luck.
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"These are the times that try men's' souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."
Thomas Paine, Intro to the The Crisis, December 19, 1776 | 
