I was fumbling thru some silver eagles and saw that the 87 and 88 one I have strikes looked very weak compared to the 04 and 05's. Is this the norm?
I haven't ever compared them to the '04 or '05 coins so I can't say. But I have compared them to the other dates - I never noticed any particular weakness in the strike. You may have run across some from older dies - or - they may have weak strikes.
There is definitely a difference in the early dies for the ASE's as compared to the newer ones. I dare say the dies have changed significantly over the years. In the early years the coin dished up to the rim, wheras now it is a nice angle. They have also reworked the luster giving it a nice satiny finish. And there are slight detail changes as well. Note the different pattern in the neckline. I don't really think that could be a result of a difference in strike.
The mint has done a great job with the ASE in the past few years IMO. Actually in the striking of all their coins. There have been some changes in the SE details in the flag.
The first few years definitley had softer details, but by design, not weaker strike. Finish has also changed (matte finish these days).
If I may psot some info here....while researching this I found that... from 1986-1996 the dies were all made from 1 master hub...it was near the one that was like the WL Half...the detail was not good and it was worn a bit...in 1996 the mint re-did the die and for about every year after that...now the strikes are better...so when you grade a coin from 1986-1996 remember that most have weak strike. Speedy
