Ordering from the US Mint... how to tell if you have a "first strike"?

Is there a reliable way of finding out if you got a "first strike" for coins ordered from the US Mint? For example, not the marketing term, but rather if we're talking about the 2021 Morgan Dollar "CC" privy mark coins... would the first batch of strikes get sent and postmarked in say early October?

Could it be identified by order # (USM#), assuming that the US Mint goes in order by first come, first serve? In which case, hypothetically with a mintage of 175,000 and based on the US Mint's production methods, technology, die quality, etc.... how many of the very first strikes will be considered as "first strike" (or whatever the correct term is to mean the actual first ones to be struck with fresh dies)?

Unless of course, TPGs and other dealers are allowed to get the very first struck coins before everyone else despite the household limit.... I don't think these will be numbered on the COA or anything either...

Thanks in advance!

 

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I doubt it. Ya can't go by order #. That don't guarantee anything other than a lower order number might grant you sooner order fulfillment.

 

"The PCGS First Strike program designates coins issued in the first 30* days of the Mint's release. This designation not only adds value to modern coins, but takes modern coin collecting to another level with multiple Mint releases each year.

*In rare cases, coins issued more than 30 days before submission can receive First Strike designation."

https://www.pcgs.com/firststrike


TWO WAYS TO OBTAIN THE FIRST STRIKE DESIGNATION

1. The package mailed to PCGS must be postmarked before or on the PCGS cutoff date for that particular coin/issue. Only the coins need to be mailed to PCGS within the first 30 days of of issue.

2. Submit the coins in the original unopened shipping box from the U.S. Mint with a postmark date prior to the specified PCGS cutoff date.

"There is an additional $18 Fee per coin for the First Strike Designation."

 

Not even the US Mint can identify a "first strike". The designation is a gimmick used by snake oil salesmen pretending to be coin dealers. Don't fall for those gimmicks. First Strike, First Release, First Day of Issue mean nothing to the value of the coin.

 

The only way you can be sure of getting a "First Strike" is if you work for the US Mint and you steal all of them when production begins.

 

I would add that the mint is like any other manufacturer. They produce in advance of sales. They have been known to mint in September for release the next year. And, think about it, how can coins be released the first week of January? Do the mint employees come in on New Years Day and mint coins for immediate release?

 

That would explain the poor nature of packing materials included in some of my shipments........drunks.

 

The general answer is "no"...see below from the US Mint:

"The United States Mint has not designated any coins or products as “first strikes” or “first releases,” nor do we track the order in which we mint coins during their production. The United States Mint strives to produce coins of consistently high quality throughout the course of production."

https://www.usmint.gov/news/consumer-alerts/consumer/first-strike-designations

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The "first strike" designation you see on grading labels is what @yakpoo mentioned above. It just means the coin was issued within a certain period of time after the official release (usually 30 days).

 

I am a big fan of slabbed coins and just opened a box from NGC, 15 minutes ago. I wholeheartedly agree with the above statement. First day of issue and first strike is a total gimmick.
Especially when you’re talking relatively low mintage collector coins. The idea being that the early ones have a stronger strike due to less die wear. Well how much measurable flipping die wear can there be after minting 100k coins on who knows how many machines? Everything is first strike in these instances IMO.
The 2016 100th anniversary commems were eligible for first strike if you got them there for grading In OGP soon enough. The same dies were used to make them all at same time without a problem and would imagine the last is indistinguishable from the first. Same with these Morgans. It’s an extra fee and more official writing on the label.

 

With today's minting standards and technology, will the very first struck coin look exactly the same as the very last struck coin (same die)?

 

Unless you have the honor, of standing next to the minting press, while production initiates........and are handed the first minted coin from that press........IT Ain't First Strike.

 

First Strike, Early Releases et all are meaningless marketing terms invented by the TPGs. Has ZERO to do with the US Mint. At best it means the coin was received by the TPG in a sealed, dated box or during the first 30 days after release.

They do successfully relieve the submitter of more of his/her/their money.

 

I could see this becoming a thing in the future. I hate to give them any ideas but imagine a recorded ceremony for the striking of the first of any issue with video of it going into one of a kind packaging that can be submitted by the buyer? Then the mint auctions it off on their site. There could be additional hoopla for every release.

 

I remember wrecking my brain (a couple of years ago) trying to figure out the difference between an MS70 and an MS70 First Strike, cause I thought an MS70 was an MS70, period. There really is no difference. When they change out the die, there's another "first strike" - just not in the first days.

 

The difference between MS70 and MS70 "First Strike" is $18.

 

The power of labels.

 

We also forget that the mint strikes .any coins ahead of release time and sends pallets of them to the fulfillment house for shipping. The first struck are actually at the bottom of the pallet.

 

First In - Last Out

 

It may have been said or asked in another thread, but, why would anyone want to pay an additional $18 to have the label state "First Strike" or any other "special" designation. Also, are "First Strike" collectible by true "Numismatic" collectors?

 

If I purchase a slabbed coin with statements like that from the TPG, that's on me. This is one of the reasons I do not send coins to TPG's. Like all of us, TPG's have an opinion, but title theirs expert or professional. The only novice, professional, or expert opinion I trust, is my own. If I need a second opinion I go directly to our local PH.D Numismatist. Great post, thank you.