Strike vs grade - I’ll take a coin w/superior strike over weak strike & higher grade anytime, you?

All are 1919-D’s:

 

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I only pay attention to eye appeal. Don't really care what it grades.

 

It depends on what your priorities are, really. When I collected Franklin halves, I absolutely had to have FBL. I wouldn't even consider buying coins without a full strike. However, I know several collectors who I highly respect to whom strike is less important - they would vastly prefer attractive toning and eye appeal over a full strike.

You have to remember, strike is only one of the components of grading (alongside luster, contact marks, and eye appeal). You have to choose for yourself which of these is most important - or if you want a strong balance of all 4.

For myself, I have on several occasions bought a lower graded coin that had stronger prooflike mirrors. I once "upgraded" my 66PL with a 65 DPL, and was very happy to do so.

 

I guess the better question is: which of the above 19-D’s WLHs do you like the most?

 

Strike is rarely even a consideration for me. As long as the strike is average and there isn’t massive detail loss, I will always choose coins with luster, color, and eye appeal over an EDS coin with none of the above.

That isn’t to say that I don’t like well struck coins, I do, but it is by far the least important element of grading to me. In fact, often times, die deterioration will result in much more lustrous coins so I actually prefer LDS coins that still have most remaining detail.

And no, I won’t sacrifice clean surfaces just to have full steps on one of my Jefferson Nickels.

 

The WLH's I like most are the ones I found in circulation. But, that was a long, long time ago. These? I like the second one above.

 

Look at Wheat pennies most are over used dies so not very many good pressing so must people want appearance not quality.