The only significance of the PCGS First Strike and NGC Early Release designation are that the coins were graded within 30 days of the initial release from the mint. The first time I heard the term I was led to believe the only coins that could receive that designation were coins minted on the first day of minting, when the dies were new, so the strike would be strongest, but that is not true. There is no way to tell when the coins were minted. You only know they were sent to the grading service within 30 days of being released by the mint. That really doesn't mean anything at all.