I just received a 2005 eagle (proof) in the mail today and the strike looks very weak to me. I am comparing it to my 2004 proof and it is just a ridiculous difference. The 2005 looks bland...like it has primer on all of the images on the front and back - a flat grey appearance. Is it unusual to receive a weak strike in a proof coin? Is this something I should return to the mint? I am terrible with the camera but I tried to take a few pics to show the difference. The 2005.jpg just shows the 2005-notice how weak the stars and branches are. The 2005onleft.jpg shows the 2005 on the left and the 2004 on the right - I know it is hard to tell from these pics but the difference is huge. Is the 2005 weak or the 2004 really good? Thanks!
……. I just purchased a 2008 - W burnished and I have the same problem, a weak looking strike. This is the first time I have came up against this problem. It was graded at MS69 and I think the reason it is not an MS70 is it must have looked like a weak strike to the graders also.
