Beginning in 2005, PCGS began designating coins packaged and delivered by the U.S. Mint in the 30 day period following the initial sales date of a new product as First Strike®. For instance, new American Silver Eagles typically go on sale each January 1st, thus any coin packaged or delivered and submitted to PCGS for certification between January 1 and January 31 qualifies for the First Strike® designation.
There are two ways PCGS can verify if a coin was shipped out from the mint within the first 30 days. The first is when a coin is shipped to PCGS from the customer with a postmarked date before the cutoff date for that particular coin. In this example, PCGS only needs the coin to be mailed in. No extra mint packaging is needed (i.e. boxes, certificates, etc.).
The second way PCGS can verify that a coin qualifies for First Strike designation is when a customer does not open the sealed package that came from the mint. In this instance, the package must remain completely sealed and unopened. The customer then can send that whole package in to PCGS and the receiving department will go by the postmarked date from the mint. As long as this date is prior to the cutoff date for that particular coin, it qualifies for first strike.
First Strike designation is an additional $18/coin.
Currently, PCGS does not offer first strike designation through the bulk submission program. Not all coins qualify for first strike designation. Please see the list below for eligible coins and the accompanying cutoff dates. If you have questions about whether or not your coin qualifies for first strike, please contact PCGS customer service at 1-800-447-8848.
| 2012 First Strike cut-off dates |
2012 First Day of Issue cut-off dates |
2011 (P) Vicksburg
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Feb 25th |
Not Offered |
|
PR National Park Quarters Silver Set
(El Yunque, Chaco Culture, Acadia, HI Volcanoes, Denali) |
Feb 8th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Gold Eagles
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Jan 31st |
Not Offered |
|
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Jan 31st |
Not Offered |
|
| 2011 First Strike cut-off dates |
2011 First Day of Issue cut-off dates |
(P) Olympic
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Jan 7th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse
(Lucretia Garfield $10) |
Jan 3rd |
Not Offered |
|
25th Anniversary Silver Eagle Set
(Set includes 2011 MS ASE, 2011-S MS ASE, 2011-W MS ASE, 2011-W PR ASE, 2011-P REV PR ASE)(2011 MS ASE, 2011-W MS ASE, 2011-W PR ASE must come in sealed mint packaging to receive 25th Anniversary Set Designation) (2011-S MS ASE and 2011-P REV PR ASE may receive 25th Anniversary Set Designation if raw)(Standard First Strike rules apply for all five coins within the set) |
Dec 7th |
Not Offered |
|
(P) Glacier
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Nov 26th |
Not Offered |
|
D/P MS Garfield
($1) |
Not Offered |
Nov 17th |
|
(P) Gettysburg
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Nov 5th |
Not Offered |
|
MS-W Silver Eagle
($1) |
Oct 15th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse
(Lucy Hayes $10) |
Oct 5th |
Not Offered |
|
| PR-P 9-11 National Medal |
Oct 1st |
Not Offered |
|
| PR-W 9-11 National Medal |
Oct 1st |
Not Offered |
|
2010 (P) Mount Hood
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
Sept 1st |
Not Offered |
|
D/P MS Hayes
($1) |
Not Offered |
|
Aug 19th |
Chickasaw Bullion Issue
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Aug 19th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse
(Julia Grant $10) |
Aug 10th |
Not Offered |
|
2010 (P) Grand Canyon
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Aug 6th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Silver Eagle
($1) |
Aug 3rd |
Not Offered |
|
Vicksburg Bullion Issue
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
July 28th |
Not Offered |
|
2010 (P) Yosemite
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
July 13th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Silver Eagle
($1 San Francisco Mint)
Coins must arrive in a mint sealed monster box to qualify as “Struck at the SF Mint” and be within the cut off date. |
July 5th |
Not Offered |
|
PR-W Platinum Eagle
($100) |
July 5th |
Not Offered |
|
PR-W Gold Buffalo
($50) |
June 23rd |
Not Offered |
|
Olympic Bullion Issue
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
June 23rd |
Not Offered |
|
2010 (P) Yellowstone
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
June 18th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse
(Johnson $10) |
June 7th |
Not Offered |
|
MS-W Gold Eagle
($50) |
June 7th |
Not Offered |
|
2010 (P) Hot Springs
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
June 4th |
Not Offered |
|
Gettysburg Bullion Issue
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
May 31st |
Not Offered |
|
Glacier Bullion Issue
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
May 31st |
Not Offered |
|
PR Gold Eagles
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
May 26th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Medal of Honor Comm.
($5) |
May 24th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Medal of Honor Comm.
($1) |
May 24th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Medal of Honor Comm.
($5) |
May 24th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Medal of Honor Comm.
($1) |
May 24th |
Not Offered |
|
D/P MS Grant
($1) |
Not Offered |
|
May 19th |
MS Gold Buffalo
($50) |
Apr 15th |
Not Offered |
|
PR U.S. Army Clad Comm.
($.50) |
Apr 8th |
Not Offered |
|
MS U.S. Army Clad Comm.
($.50) |
Mar 30th |
Not Offered |
|
PR U.S. Army Comm.
($1) |
Mar 30th |
Not Offered |
|
MS U.S. Army Comm.
($5) |
Mar 30th |
Not Offered |
|
PR U.S. Army Comm.
($5) |
Apr 2nd |
Not Offered |
|
D/P MS Johnson
($1) |
Not Offered |
|
Feb 17 * Coins must come in a sealed mint box (2500 coins) |
MS Gold Eagle
($5) |
Mar 23rd |
Not Offered |
|
MS Gold Eagle
($10, $25) |
Mar 25th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 4th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Gold Eagle
($50) |
Feb 4th |
Not Offered |
|
PR National Park Quarters Silver Set (Gettysburg, Glacier, Olympic, Vicksburg, Chickasaw)
($.25) |
Feb 25h |
Not Offered |
|
PR Minors Silver Set
(1C, 5C, 10C, 50C, Native American $1) |
Feb 25th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Presidential Set
($1) (Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield) |
Feb 11th |
Not Offered |
|
PR National Park Quarters Clad Set
(Gettysburg, Glacier, Olympic, Vicksburg, Chickasaw)
($.25) |
Feb 11th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Minors Clad Set
(1C, 5C, 10C, 50C, Native American $1) |
Feb 11th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 4th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Gold Eagle
($50) |
Feb 4th |
Not Offered |
|
| 2010 First Strike cut-off dates |
2010 First Day of Issue cut-off dates |
National Quarters Silver Set
(5OZ. 25cent) |
All eligible |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse
(Lincoln $10) |
Jan 6th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Silver Eagle
($1) |
Dec 21st |
Not Offered |
|
D/P MS Lincoln
($1) |
Not Offered |
|
Nov 18th * Coins must come in a sealed mint box (2500 coins) |
PR Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Nov 6th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse
(Buchanan $10) |
Oct 6th |
Not Offered |
|
PR PLATINUM EAGLE
($100) |
Sep 10 th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25) |
July 20th |
Not Offered |
|
PR National Quarters Silver Set
(.25) |
June 26th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse
(Jane Pierce $10) |
July 2nd |
Not Offered |
|
PR GOLD BUFFALO
($50) |
July 2nd |
Not Offered |
|
PR National Quarters Clad Set
(.25) |
Jun 12th |
Not Offered |
|
D/P MS Pierce
($1) |
Not Offered |
May 20th |
|
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
($200) |
Apr 14th |
Not Offered |
|
MS GOLD BUFFALO
($50) |
June 1st |
Not Offered |
|
D/P Union Shield
(1 cent Shield) |
Not Offered |
|
Feb 11th * Coins must come in a sealed mint box (2500 coins) |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Abigail Filmore $10) |
Apr 20th |
Not Offered |
|
D/P MS FILLMORE
($1) |
Mar 13th |
|
Feb 18th |
PR PRESIDENTIAL SET
($1) |
Mar 13th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Gold Eagle
($50) |
Feb 19th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 23rd |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse
(Margaret Taylor $10) |
Jan 12th |
Not Offered |
|
| 2009 First Strike cut-off dates |
2009 First Day of Issue cut-off dates |
09 D/P Lincoln 1C
(1 cent Presidency) |
Not Offered |
Nov 12th * Coins must come in a sealed mint box (2500 coins) |
|
D/P Lincoln
(1 cent Professional Life) |
Not Offered |
Aug 13th *Coins must come in a sealed mint box (2500 coins) |
|
D/P Lincoln
(1 cent Formative Years) |
Not Offered |
May 14th *Coins must come in a sealed mint box (2500 coins) |
|
09 D/P Lincoln 1C
(1 cent log cabin) |
Not Offered |
Feb 12th * Coins must come in a sealed mint box (2500 coins) |
|
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Van Buren's Liberty $10) |
Jan 7th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Anna Harrison $10) |
Apr 24th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse
(Letitia Tyler $10) |
Aug 15th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse
(Julia Tyler $10) |
Sep 5th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First spouse
(Sarah Polk $10) |
Oct 14th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Platinum Eagle
($100) |
All Eligible |
Not Offered |
|
MS Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
All Eligible |
Not Offered |
|
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Jan 31st |
Not Offered |
|
MS Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
Jan 31st |
Not Offered |
|
Ultra High Relief
($20) |
Mar 11th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Presidential Sets
($1) |
Mar 13th |
Not Offered |
|
-Zach Taylor
($1) |
Mar 13th |
09 D/P Taylor
($1) |
Nov 19th |
-James K. Polk
($1) |
Mar 13th |
09 D/P Polk
($1) |
Aug 20th |
-John Tyler
($1) |
Mar 13th |
09 D/P Tyler
($1) |
May 21st |
-William H. Harrison
($1) |
Mar 13th |
09 D/P Harrison
($1) |
Feb 19th |
2010 MS Vancouver Olympic Maple Gold Leaf
($50) |
Jun 7th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Maple Leaf Platinum
($50) |
Jun 20th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Buffalo Gold
($50) |
Nov 18th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Buffalo Gold
($50) |
Dec 3rd |
Not Offered |
|
| 2008 First Strike cut-off dates |
2008 First Day of Issue cut-off dates |
MS Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Jan 31st |
Not Offered |
|
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Jan 31st |
Not Offered |
|
| MS Platinum Eagle |
Jan 31st |
Not Offered |
|
MS Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Jan 31st |
Not Offered |
|
PR Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 6th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Jackson's Liberty $10) |
Oct 19th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Presidential $1 Sets
($1) |
Mar 14th |
Not Offered |
|
- Monroe
($1) |
Mar 14th |
08 D/P Monore
($1) |
Feb 14th |
- Quincy Adams
($1) |
Mar 14th |
08 D/P Quincy Adams
($1) |
May 15th |
- Jackson
($1) |
Mar 14th |
08 D/P Jackson
($1) |
Aug 14th |
- Van Buren
($1) |
Mar 14th |
08 D/P Van Buren
($1) |
Nov 13th |
PR Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Apr 12th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Aug 23rd |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Elizabeth Monroe $10) |
Apr 5th |
Not Offered |
|
MS-W Silver Eagle
($1) |
Apr 23rd |
Not Offered |
|
MS-W Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
May 2nd |
Not Offered |
|
PR 08-W Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
June 6th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Louisa Adams $10) |
Jul 10th |
Not Offered |
|
MS-W Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
Aug 8th |
Not Offered |
|
PR 08-W Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Aug 23rd |
Not Offered |
|
MS-W Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Aug 25th |
Not Offered |
|
| 2007 First Strike cut-off dates |
2007 First Day of Issue cut-off dates |
MS Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Jan 31st |
Not Offered |
|
| MS Silver Eagle |
Jan 31st
($1) |
Not Offered |
|
MS Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
Jan 31st |
Not Offered |
|
MS-W Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
May 26th |
Not Offered |
|
MS-W Silver Eagle
($1) |
Jul 13th |
Not Offered |
|
MS-W Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
Aug 17th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Mar 9th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Silver Eagle
($1) |
April 26th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
Aug 17th |
Not Offered |
|
MS Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Mar 28th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Jun 27th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Washington/Adams $10) |
Jul 20th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse Gold
(Jefferson's Liberty $10) |
Oct 19th |
Not Offered |
|
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Madison $10) |
Dec 28th |
Not Offered |
|
PR Presidential Sets
($1) |
Jul 21st |
Not Offered |
|
- Washington
($1) |
Jul 21st |
Washington D/P
($1) |
Feb 15th |
- Adams
($1) |
Jul 21st |
Adams D/P
($1) |
May 17th |
- Jefferson
($1) |
Jul 21st |
Jefferson D/P
($1) |
Aug 16th |
- Madison
($1) |
Jul 21st |
Madison D/P
($1) |
Nov 15th |
PR-W/Reverse PR-W Platinum Eagles
($50) |
Jan 20th 2008 |
Not Offered |
|
