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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;LafayetteDollar, post: 1142935, member: 28853&quot;]I understand why some people are against strike designations.&nbsp; I agree that the fact that a coin qualifies for a strike designation does not always mean the coin has been well struck.&nbsp; And yes, there is some truth to the advertising tool/sales tactic accusations, Full Torch Roosevelts comes to mind.&nbsp; However, it occurs to me that most people who don&#039;t like strike designations, very much like well struck coins.&nbsp; And while it may be possible to find an example of a coin that bears a strike designation that is weakly struck overall, only coins with strike designations can be considered fully struck.&nbsp; Finding strike designated coins that are weakly struck does not change the fact that more often than not, a coin that is well struck in the area that is typically softly struck is a good indicator of a strong strike.</p><p><br /></p><p>It seems to me that the strike designated coins should be subject to the old mantra, &quot;buy the coin not the plastic&quot;.&nbsp; However, that does not mean the strike designation is worthless.&nbsp; After all, it allows the collector to narrow the search considerably.&nbsp; My point is that coins without the strike designation are by definition, not fully struck, and will never satisfy the strike conscious collector.&nbsp; Even if the coin has a hammered strike in all other respects, the strike designations are usually in the focal areas of the coin and your eyes are drawn to that area of the coin.&nbsp; For the Mercury Dimes (FB) and Jefferson Nickels (FS), the strike designation areas in right in the middle of the coin and impossible to ignore.</p><p><br /></p><p>I remember the first time I saw the coin shown in the link below which is now owned by a fellow CT member.&nbsp; My first thought was that it was the most beautiful Mercury dime I had ever seen.&nbsp; My second thought was what a shame it was that the coin did not have full bands.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&amp;threadid=803294" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&amp;threadid=803294" rel="nofollow">Wowee! This Mercury Dime Qualifies as a Rainbow and a Monster!</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Just like marks in the focal areas of the coin are more important with respect to the grade of the coin, so too is strike weakness in the focal areas of the coin.&nbsp; Bowers concept of full details is certainly better than strike designations, but there is nothing stopping collectors from refusing to buy coins with strike designations that do not have full details on the remainder of the coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>I personally like strike designations and feel that price premiums for these coins are definitely warranted.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mark[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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