Beginning in 2005, PCGS began designating coins packaged and delivered by the U.S. Mint in the 30 day period following the release date from the U.S. Mint 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.
PCGS offers First Strike designation through the Bulk Department. Review the PCGS Bulk Submission Guidelines to determine if your coins qualify. 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.
PCGS Coin Number Lookup.
| 2013 First Strike cut-off dates |
PR-W American Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50)
|
May 21st |
MS-P Perry’s Memorial
(.25 cent)
|
May 3rd |
MS-D Perry’s Memorial
(.25 cent)
|
May 3rd |
MS-S Perry’s Memorial
(.25 cent)
|
May 3rd |
PR-S Minor Clad Set
(1C, 5C, 10C, 50C, $1 Native American)
|
April 30th |
PR-W 5-Star General Silver Commemorative
($5 – Mac Arthur)
|
April 20th |
MS-P 5-Star General Silver Commemorative
($5 – Mac Arthur)
|
April 20th |
PR-P 5-Star General Silver Commemorative
($1 – Marshall, Eisenhower)
|
April 20th |
MS-W 5-Star General Silver Commemorative
($1 – Marshall, Eisenhower)
|
April 20th |
PR-S 5-Star General Silver Commemorative
(50C – Arnold, Bradley)
|
April 20th |
MS-D 5-Star General Silver Commemorative
(50C – Arnold, Bradley)
|
April 20th |
MS/PR-W Girl Scout Silver Commemorative 100th Anniversary
($1)
|
April 6th |
PR-S Presidential $1 Sets
(Roosevelt, McKinley, Taft, Wilson) |
March 20th |
(P) White Mountain
(.25 cent) |
March 9th |
(D) White Mountain
(.25 cent) |
March 9th |
(S) White Mountain
(.25 cent) |
March 9th |
PR-S National Park Clad Quarter Set
(25C-White Mountain, Perry’s Memorial,
Great Basin, Fort McHenry, Mount Rushmore) |
March 2nd |
PR-W American Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 28th |
PR-S Birth Set
(1C, 5C, 10C, 25C White Mountain, 50C)
(Sets must come sealed to receive “Birth Set” designation) |
Feb 16th |
PR-S National Park Silver Quarter Set
(25C - White Mountain, Perry’s Memorial, Great Basin, Fort McHenry, Mount Rushmore) |
Feb 9th |
MS-W American Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 8th |
MS-S American Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 8th |
MS American Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 8th |
MS American Gold Buffalo
($50) |
Feb 5th |
MS American Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Feb 5th |
PR-S Limited Edition Silver Proof Sets
(10C, El Yunque 25C, Chaco Culture 25C, Acadia 25C, HI Volcanoes 25C, Denali 25C, 50C, $1 American Silver Eagle)
("Limited Edition PR Set" designation only available through the Bulk Department) |
Jan 29th |
| 2012 First Strike cut-off dates |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Frances Cleveland-2nd Term $10)
|
Jan 19th 2013 |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Caroline Harrison $10)
|
Jan 5th 2013 |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Frances Cleveland-1st Term $10) |
Dec 15th |
(S) Denali
(.25 cent) |
Dec 15th |
(P) Denali
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
Dec 7th |
Denali Bullion Issue
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
Nov 22nd |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Alice Paul $10) |
Nov 15th |
(P) Hawaii Volcanoes
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
Oct 25th |
Hawaii Volcanoes Bullion Issue
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
Oct 9th |
(S) Hawaii Volcanoes
(.25 cent) |
Oct 3rd |
(P) Acadia
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
Sept 15th |
(S) Acadia
(.25 cent) |
Sept 11th |
PR-W American Platinum Eagle
($100) |
Sept 7th |
PR-S American Silver Eagle – Coin & Currency Set
($1 – must come in original mint packaging) |
Sept 6th |
MS-W American Silver Eagle
($1) |
Sept 1st |
Acadia Bullion Issue
(5 OZ. 25cent) |
Aug 28th |
PR-S 75th Anniversary of SF Mint 2-piece PR ASE Set
($1 Proof and Reverse Proof) |
Aug 25th |
(S) Chaco Culture
(.25 cent) |
Aug 14th |
(P) Chaco Culture
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
Aug 9th |
MS-W American Gold Eagle
($50) |
Aug 9th |
Chaco Culture Bullion Issue
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
Aug 4th |
(S) El Yunque
(.25 cent) |
July 21st |
PR – Minors Silver Set
(1C, 5C, 10C, 50C, Native American $1) |
July 7th |
(P) El Yunque
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
June 29th |
El Yunque Bullion Issue
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
June 23rd |
PR- Minors Clad Set
(1C, 5C, 10C, 50C, Native American $1) |
June 9th |
PR Presidential $1 Set
(Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison, Cleveland) |
June 1st |
PR Gold Eagles
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
May 26th |
PR-W American Silver Eagle
($1) |
May 15th |
PR-W American Gold Buffalo
($50) |
April 14th |
MS-W Star Spangled Banner Gold Commem
($5) |
April 5th |
PR-W Star Spangled Banner Gold Commem
($5) |
April 5th |
MS-P Star Spangled Banner Silver Commem
($1) |
April 5th |
PR-P Star Spangled Banner Silver Commem
($1) |
April 5th |
MS American Gold Buffalo
($50) |
April 3rd |
MS-W Infantry Soldier Silver Commem
($1) |
March 20th |
PR-W Infantry Soldier Silver Commem
($1) |
March 20th |
2011 (P) Chickasaw
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
March 13th |
2011 (P) Vicksburg
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Feb 25th |
PR National Park Quarters Silver Set
(El Yunque, Chaco Culture, Acadia, HI Volcanoes, Denali) |
Feb 8th |
MS Gold Eagles
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Jan 31st |
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Jan 31st |
| 2011 First Strike cut-off dates |
(P) Olympic
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Jan 7th 2012 |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Lucretia Garfield $10) |
Jan 3rd 2012 |
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 |
(P) Glacier
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Nov 26th |
(P) Gettysburg
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Nov 5th |
MS-W Silver Eagle
($1) |
Oct 15th |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Lucy Hayes $10) |
Oct 5th |
| PR-P 9-11 National Medal |
Oct 1st |
| PR-W 9-11 National Medal |
Oct 1st |
2010 (P) Mount Hood
(5 OZ. 25 cent) |
Sept 1st |
Chickasaw Bullion Issue
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Aug 19th |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Julia Grant $10) |
Aug 10th |
2010 (P) Grand Canyon
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
Aug 6th |
PR Silver Eagle
($1) |
Aug 3rd |
Vicksburg Bullion Issue
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
July 28th |
2010 (P) Yosemite
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
July 13th |
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 |
PR-W Platinum Eagle
($100) |
July 5th |
PR-W Gold Buffalo
($50) |
June 23rd |
Olympic Bullion Issue
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
June 23rd |
2010 (P) Yellowstone
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
June 18th |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Johnson $10) |
June 7th |
MS-W Gold Eagle
($50) |
June 7th |
2010 (P) Hot Springs
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
June 4th |
Gettysburg Bullion Issue
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
May 31st |
Glacier Bullion Issue
(5OZ. 25 cent) |
May 31st |
PR Gold Eagles
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
May 26th |
PR Medal of Honor Comm.
($5) |
May 24th |
PR Medal of Honor Comm.
($1) |
May 24th |
MS Medal of Honor Comm.
($5) |
May 24th |
MS Medal of Honor Comm.
($1) |
May 24th |
MS Gold Buffalo
($50) |
Apr 15th |
PR U.S. Army Clad Comm.
($.50) |
Apr 8th |
MS U.S. Army Clad Comm.
($.50) |
Mar 30th |
PR U.S. Army Comm.
($1) |
Mar 30th |
MS U.S. Army Comm.
($5) |
Mar 30th |
PR U.S. Army Comm.
($5) |
Apr 2nd |
MS Gold Eagle
($5) |
Mar 23rd |
MS Gold Eagle
($10, $25) |
Mar 25th |
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 4th |
MS Gold Eagle
($50) |
Feb 4th |
PR National Park Quarters Silver Set (Gettysburg, Glacier, Olympic, Vicksburg, Chickasaw)
($.25) |
Feb 25h |
PR Minors Silver Set
(1C, 5C, 10C, 50C, Native American $1) |
Feb 25th |
PR Presidential Set
($1) (Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield) |
Feb 11th |
PR National Park Quarters Clad Set
(Gettysburg, Glacier, Olympic, Vicksburg, Chickasaw)
($.25) |
Feb 11th |
PR Minors Clad Set
(1C, 5C, 10C, 50C, Native American $1) |
Feb 11th |
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 4th |
MS Gold Eagle
($50) |
Feb 4th |
| 2010 First Strike cut-off dates |
National Quarters Silver Set
(5OZ. 25cent) |
All eligible |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Lincoln $10) |
Jan 6th |
PR Silver Eagle
($1) |
Dec 21st |
PR Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Nov 6th |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Buchanan $10) |
Oct 6th |
PR PLATINUM EAGLE
($100) |
Sep 10 th |
MS Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25) |
July 20th |
PR National Quarters Silver Set
(.25) |
June 26th |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Jane Pierce $10) |
July 2nd |
PR GOLD BUFFALO
($50) |
July 2nd |
PR National Quarters Clad Set
(.25) |
Jun 12th |
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
($200) |
Apr 14th |
MS GOLD BUFFALO
($50) |
June 1st |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Abigail Filmore $10) |
Apr 20th |
PR Presidential Sets
($1) (Lincoln, Pierce, Fillmore, Buchanan) |
Mar 13th |
MS Gold Eagle
($50) |
Feb 19th |
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 23rd |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Margaret Taylor $10) |
Jan 12th |
| 2009 First Strike cut-off dates |
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Van Buren's Liberty $10) |
Jan 7th |
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Anna Harrison $10) |
Apr 24th |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Letitia Tyler $10) |
Aug 15th |
MS/PR First Spouse
(Julia Tyler $10) |
Sep 5th |
MS/PR First spouse
(Sarah Polk $10) |
Oct 14th |
PR Platinum Eagle
($100) |
All Eligible |
MS Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
All Eligible |
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Jan 31st |
MS Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
Jan 31st |
Ultra High Relief
($20) |
Mar 11th |
PR Presidential Sets
($1) (Taylor, Polk, Tyler, Harrison) |
Mar 13th |
2010 MS Vancouver Olympic Maple Gold Leaf
($50) |
Jun 7th |
MS Maple Leaf Platinum
($50) |
Jun 20th |
MS Buffalo Gold
($50) |
Nov 18th |
PR Buffalo Gold
($50) |
Dec 3rd |
| 2008 First Strike cut-off dates |
MS Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Jan 31st |
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Jan 31st |
| MS Platinum Eagle |
Jan 31st |
MS Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Jan 31st |
PR Silver Eagle
($1) |
Feb 6th |
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Jackson's Liberty $10) |
Oct 19th |
PR Presidential $1 Sets
($1) (Monroe, Adams, Jackson, Van Buren) |
Mar 14th |
PR Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Apr 12th |
PR Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Aug 23rd |
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Elizabeth Monroe $10) |
Apr 5th |
MS-W Silver Eagle
($1) |
Apr 23rd |
MS-W Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
May 2nd |
PR 08-W Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
June 6th |
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Louisa Adams $10) |
Jul 10th |
MS-W Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
Aug 8th |
PR 08-W Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Aug 23rd |
MS-W Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Aug 25th |
| 2007 First Strike cut-off dates |
MS Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Jan 31st |
MS Silver Eagle
($1) |
Jan 31st |
MS Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
Jan 31st |
MS-W Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
May 26th |
MS-W Silver Eagle
($1) |
Jul 13th |
MS-W Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
Aug 17th |
PR Gold Eagle
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Mar 9th |
PR Silver Eagle
($1) |
April 26th |
PR Platinum Eagle
($10, $25, $50, $100) |
Aug 17th |
MS Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Mar 28th |
PR Gold Buffalo
($5, $10, $25, $50) |
Jun 27th |
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Washington/Adams $10) |
Jul 20th |
MS/PR First Spouse Gold
(Jefferson's Liberty $10) |
Oct 19th |
MS/PR First Spouse Gold Coins
(Madison $10) |
Dec 28th |
PR Presidential Sets
($1) (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison) |
Jul 21st |
PR-W/Reverse PR-W Platinum Eagles
($50) |
Jan 20th 2008 |
