I am a new collector; about seven months. I have been collecting Silver Eagles both online and from a local dealer. Most have come from my local dealer. He sells mostly uncertified eagles. (I have seen very few slabbed eagles in his shop. Modern slabbed coins don't interest him he says. Thinks it's a gimmick. 'There is no reason to slab newer coins.') When I bought the 86, 87, 88, 89, and 90 proof eagles I noticed that the detail on the flag, to the left of Liberty's profile, is not as sharp as it is on most of my other later eagles. I purchased a NGC PF70 coin on ebay to compare it to my other eagles. I cannot see any flaws on it so I would say it is perfect. I have a few other very nice eagles but I can still see where the PF70 has detail that shows clearer than the others I own. You can clearly see the marks, checks, lines, whatever you call them on the flag where the stars are located. When I asked the dealer about this he said that maybe the coins ( 86 thru 90) that I purchased have a 'weak strike'. I have several early eagles and they all show this 'weak strike.' My later dated eagles show these lines or checks clearly although not as sharply as the PF70. Does anyone know if this is because the mint changed it's minting process for the eagles after 1990? I also have uncirculated eagles in that time period that are not nearly as 'frosty' as later eagles. I have an example of a MS70 UNC. eagle also that I purchased to compare it to other eagles so I would have a better idea of the quality of coin I was purchasing.
Great question Mardan1. I can't comment on the proof aspect of these coins since I've been sadly remiss in collecting the earlier proofs (hope to one day rectify that situation). I will say that the business strike issues of the years in question (within my collection) do not exhibit the characteristics that you state. Maybe others will chime in?
So the business strikes that you have are as white as the ones you have for the later years? I talked to my local dealer about these (the 86 thru 89) and he said that he rarely sees ones that are 'white'. Where'd you get them?
I must confess that I got them from a "fat' guy on a TV coin program before I became enlightened by this forum. They were advertised as '67-'68 and I feel that the grade was dead on. However the price I paid for these coins was criminal.....(at that time mind you)
Also, as I look at my 1988 unc. (doing it now) the area to the left of Liberty's profile, where the stars are, is pretty smooth. I have another that is not as smooth but again I do not see the lines or checks that I can see on my later date uncs. Even on my proof, it just looks a little 'bumpy' maybe.
Hmm. I would love to see them. I doubt that the ones I have would grade at 68. I'm still looking though.
