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Message:: [QUOTE="Hobo, post: 312752, member: 11521"]The first few coins struck from new dies are often proof-like with very sharp details. These coins are called "first strike" coins. The dies quickly wear so only the first few coins struck by the dies will have the characteristics of "first strike" coins. New dies are not put into use only on the first day a coin series goes into production. As dies wear out or become damaged new dies are put into use. The first coins struck from those new dies may have "first strike" characteristics even though they were struck months into production of that coin series.  The "First Strike" phenomenon with the grading services preyed on the ignorance of the general population that does not understand the definition of "first strike" and would believe that any coin struck on the first day of production would be among the "first strikes". After being shamed by the coin collecting community I guess the grading services changed their designation to "First Day Of Issue", a mostly meaningless term to knowledgeable coin collectors.  "First Strike" and "First Day Of Issue" are pure hype and salesmanship.[/QUOTE]