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Coin World Exposes the Fraud that is "First Strike"

OK...here are the rules...and you know them already...

If you want to say what we do is "nonesense," that's OK. But if you call what we do fraud, you're outta here.

Goodbye Codder.

By the way, we think mdwoods comment,

"Coin World has a lot of gall saying anything about a marketing ploy given the reputation of some of their advertisers."

is the most appropriate of all.

Ron Guth and David Hall

«13456

Comments

  • image What's next...blue toned IHC's? image

    If I only had a dollar for every VAM I have...err...nevermind...I do!! image

    My "Fun With 21D" Die State Collection - QX5 Pics Attached
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    Proud Owner of
    2 –DAMMIT BOY!!! ® Awards
  • MyqqyMyqqy Posts: 9,777
    I've always thought that first strike designations are complete nonsense.... but then, I think most marketing I come into contact with day to day is complete nonsense...... image
    My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable !
  • wondercoinwondercoin Posts: 16,997 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How does anyone know what "premium" has been placed on a First Strike Buffalo coin when I have not seen a non-first Buffalo selling for less money? Once FS ends, by next month there may or may not any premium at all for Buffalo FS coins - we will see.

    Wondercoin
    Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.
  • NumisOxideNumisOxide Posts: 10,998 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I've always thought that first strike designations are complete nonsense >>


    image
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    I think you need to look up the definition of fraud.

    Russ, NCNE
  • wondercoinwondercoin Posts: 16,997 ✭✭✭✭✭
    "And if there isn't any premium attached to the First Strike coins, what does that make the collectors who bought them? Right. So there will be. Got to keep hope alive."

    Don't follow - my point was simply that non-FS coins will start hitting the market around now / later this month - at which point collectors and dealers will see what, if any, premium exists for FS Buffalos.

    Wondercoin
    Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.
  • TommyTypeTommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
    There must be a more appropriate way of peeing in the owners pool than by standing on the diving board. image

    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • I don't see a problem. PCGS states first strikes are coins sold in the first month of release. Big deal
    Collectors that want that label should already be aware that it means only that.
    Delusional people might think the are buying the first coins off the presses image But like the saying goes" there is one born every minute. "
    The Government should cash in on the craze and offer a first strike of the die coins or first 100 coins coin or number the coins by the batch.Then they could jack up the premium and offer the chance to buy them by lottery drawing. Now that would be a gasimage:
  • JRoccoJRocco Posts: 14,277 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I believe that it is these mass grading "schemes" that keep the TPG's rolling in the dosh. I also think that is why a true gem coin gets the 10 second grade and us "little guys" get treated like..............little guys.
    Nuff said.
    Some coins are just plain "Interesting"
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I just did---"an act of deceiving or misrepresenting." There are others, and they all fit the First Strike program. You look it up. >>



    Precisely how has PCGS deceived or misrepresented? The criteria for this designation is very clearly stated for all to see. The fact that some collectors are willing to pay a premium for the label does not in any way constitute fraud.

    Russ, NCNE
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Before you leap all over me, read the editorial. Don't kill the messenger. >>



    Did the author of the editorial call it fraud?

    Russ, NCNE
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    So, the author did not use the word fraud?

    Russ, NCNE
  • Since you have mentioned Robert Chambers I would like to ask something that someone here might have some details on. It was implied across the street that Silver Towne is the main money behind the TV show Coin Vault. Anybody know any details? True? Totally false?



    Jerry
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    Silver Towne is their largest supplier. It's possible that they ponied up some financing so they wouldn't lose all that business if the show went away.

    Russ, NCNE
  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭

    if there weren't people out there willing to pay for these silly designations, they wouldn't make them.

    if these people want to spend their money on such things, let them. To each his own.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Don't kill the messenger. >>



    You ceased being just the messenger when you chose to interject your own erroneous opinion that the first strike designation constitutes fraud.

    Russ, NCNE
  • Coin FinderCoin Finder Posts: 7,391 ✭✭✭✭✭
    CW could get sued by called out "fraud". They have to be careful.

    Me personally, I do not think it fraud. It would be fraud if I bought for example an advertised "Mint Sealed" proof set from the 50,s with "all original coins intact" etc.. and when I opened it, it was a bunch of washers.

    My opinion.
  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭
    I don't have my CW handy...it's already found it's way to our campfire ring but I doubt that coinworld called it Fraud.
  • robertprrobertpr Posts: 6,862 ✭✭✭


    << <i>How about the title: "SHIPPING DATES DON"T EQUAL 'FIRST' " Read the editorial. If you don't think what they're doing constitutes fraud, and that is exactly what Coin World means by their editorial, then I can't help you. And OJ wasn't guilty, and Oswald didn't do it, and Clinton didn't have sex with Lewinsky. Whatever. >>



    I can't help but think that they didn't come right out and use the word "fraud" because their lawyers told them not to.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>but I doubt that coinworld called it Fraud. >>



    Of course they didn't. The OP added that all by himself.

    Russ, NCNE
  • seateddimeseateddime Posts: 6,180 ✭✭✭
    these are not "real coins"


    buy a nice 1872 cc dime is vg as see which is worth more in 20 years.

    The only reason I bought a proof buffalo is to give my unborn son a present.
    I seldom check PM's but do check emails often jason@seated.org

    Buying top quality Seated Dimes in Gem BU and Proof.

    Buying great coins - monster eye appeal only.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The bottom line: by any traditional definition of first strikes, these coins are not. I've given you the deifintion of fraud. >>



    The "bottom line" is that the author did not call it fraud, you did. Any thinking person knows that it isn't fraud by any stretch of the imagination. It's a silly marketing gimmick, but not fraud.



    << <i>You've lost the debate and want to hide behind a word. >>



    Uh yeah, okay. image

    Russ, NCNE
  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭
    Codder

    your Wrong. Period.

  • DD Posts: 1,997 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Just got my Coin World and the lead editorial is a killer. In plain language that even a novice like me can understand they expose the fraud that is the "first strike" baloney slung by PCGS and the other TPGs. How much of a premium should be placed on a Gold Buffalo (or any other coin) designated as "First Strike?" NOTHING. And this is what we get from the entity that is supposed to "protect" the coin collector from fraud. Good for Coin World--they've struck another blow into the image of the institutionalized theft ring that is graded coins. This is the kind of article (and I have read several others over the last year) that is driving new collectors away from the "hobby." What is the difference between the First Strike program and Robert Chambers? Just a matter of degree. >>



    Robert Chambers obviously has more experience than anyone at PCGS, plus, he buys silver roosies for 2.50 each! image

    -Daniel
    "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

    -Aristotle

    Dum loquimur fugerit invida aetas. Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.

    -Horace
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>they've lost the ability to see fraud when it's right in front of them. >>



    If you show us a REAL example of fraud I'm sure we'll quite readily see it.

    Russ, NCNE
  • orevilleoreville Posts: 12,138 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What the heck, I always looked for and sought out "Last Strike" coins!

    I am more peeved at the terminology of "First Strike" rather than the term "First Struck."

    Last struck sounds better than last strike too?

    I am not kidding, first struck coins of the die is more proof-like and I prefer the creamy luster in which the surfaces are more white frosty (in silver coins).

    A Collectors Universe poster since 1997!
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Pick up the paper and PM me your apology. >>



    No need to PM. I'm sorry - that you don't know the definition of fraud.

    Russ, NCNE
  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭


    << <i>If you can't agree that this thing is, there's not much more to say. Pick up the paper and PM me your apology. >>




    image
  • MyqqyMyqqy Posts: 9,777
    I'm glad that Russ apologized publicly...... image
    My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable !
  • StoogeStooge Posts: 4,673 ✭✭✭✭✭
    First Strike coins only happen in the first month of the year or before right?

    Here is how I see it:

    The U.S. Mint prepares dies for the whole year and makes whatever it needs regarding the Silver, Gold, and Platinum coins. These dies are used starting late in the year for the following year. These are not the only new dies that are used all year long, so if a new die is used in June, then the first 100 or so coins off of that die should be considered "First Strike".

    So actually First Strike coins happen all year long, not just before february 1st.

    They should be called first Release coins!

    Later, Paul.

    Later, Paul.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I'll give you one more chance to dig yourself out of your very deep hole. >>



    It appears you suffer from transference issues.

    Russ, NCNE
  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭
    codder

    you should just walk away from this one while you still think you are ahead.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>you should just walk away from this one while you still think you are ahead. >>



    Well, Goose, he already said "goodnight fellows" so it looks like he suddenly developed the good sense to realize the inanity of his assertion and move on.

    Russ, NCNE
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,721 ✭✭✭✭✭
    "First Strike" coins are available early before any sort of price is really
    established. Only high grade coins will be certified in most cases.There's
    really little importance to the term nor is there much meaning to the term.
    It remains to be seen if these develope a premium in excess to others
    but don't be surprised if they don't.

    The word "gimmick" springs to mind and it wouldn't be too tough to think
    "hype", but fraud would be a major leap in spirit or in fact. There is a def-
    inition for these coins and it is related to their striking order even if there
    is little or no correlation to quality.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • robertprrobertpr Posts: 6,862 ✭✭✭
    First Strike coins only happen in the first month of the year or before right?

    Wrong.


    They should be called first Release coins!


    That would be better, however, why not just call them "bulk submission" coins? That's what they are.
  • It's as simple as this. The very first coin struck from the very first set of dies is the one and only "First Strike". That particular coin, no matter what it's price, value, or significance given falls under the realm of the Coin Hobby. Any coin after that given the First Strike designation is nothing more than a bunch of damn hooey. And, all the damn hooey, be it First Strike, Nevada Hoard, Omaha Bank Hoard, or whatever marketing ploy someone comes up with falls under the realm of the Billion Dollar Coin Industry. And that's how it is period!



    Jerry
  • michaelmichael Posts: 9,524 ✭✭✭
    image
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,795 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Not sure how wise it is to dis PCGS on their own forums in such a manner, but I have to agree- the whole "First Strike" thing on the holders looked gimmicky to me all along.

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,795 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Then again, Goose has a point:



    << <i>if there weren't people out there willing to pay for these silly designations, they wouldn't make them.

    if these people want to spend their money on such things, let them. To each his own. >>


    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • TarmacTarmac Posts: 394
    I have to agree- the whole "First Strike" thing on the holders looked gimmicky to me all along.

    Just like WTC death slabs [the ones which were never at ground zero but gave the impression they were].

  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    And yet another one floats to the surfaceimage
  • rooksmithrooksmith Posts: 1,048 ✭✭✭✭
    Maybe they mean First strike as in baseball - ?
    “When you don't know what you're talking about, it's hard to know when you're finished.” - Tommy Smothers
  • MrKelsoMrKelso Posts: 2,912 ✭✭✭
    image

    It was only $2.00 over the premium for a nice protective case. So i grabbed a few of them.


    "The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD GOD Almighty."
  • roadrunnerroadrunner Posts: 28,313 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Place a gimmick out there and people will buy it. The people didn't have a poll and then request that the mint designate "first strike" or "death" coins. This is done at the marketing level by the geniuses in the govt or in the coin business. If it's new, has a neat slogan, and catches your eye (for whatever reason), people will buy it. You can apply this to stocks (ipo's), fashion, advertising,
    movies, cars, food, etc. Stick it out there with a fancy logo and advertising and people will scarf it up......for at least a while.

    Coin dealers came up with the idea of special labeling for CAM, DCAM, and probably FSB and many other "to die for" labels of today. And now the collector cannot live without them. Amazing.

    No, the people never "request" this crap. The advertising and marketing geniuses come up with it and dump it in front of you.

    roadrunner
    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
  • tincuptincup Posts: 5,387 ✭✭✭✭✭
    So Codder, I have to assume that you have been purchasing these First Strike coins--- judging by how upset you seem to be by what you have found out. My condolences if you have, and they are not what you were expecting them to be.

    I have to agree with you.... that the term is deceptive from what is the most common use of the term First Strike. BUT--- I know of no legal, all encompassing, cut and dried official definition of the term.... so anyone can use the term however they see fit. Kind of like grading standards...... there are whatever one makes them out to be. One man's AU58 is anothers MS63.

    Also, from what I gathered from this thread, PCGS DEFINED what they meant by the term. So, how can you consider this to be fraud when they disclosed this?? Granted... many purchasers probably did not contact PCGS to find out.... but just assumed the term meant what they themselves thought it meant. (and I have to admit.... I have always used the term for the coins first off of a new die also).

    Bottom line.... perhaps creative, deceptive marketing ploy..... but not legal fraud. There is a big difference between the two.
    ----- kj
  • VamGuyVamGuy Posts: 1,624
    I wonder if the clowns defending this first strike situation feel the same about artificially toned coins.

    A coin offered for sale with the pitch "MONSTER RAINBOW", without even suggesting it was NT, sells for huge money...


    << <i> if there weren't people out there willing to pay for these silly designations, they wouldn't make them. if these people want to spend their money on such things, let them. To each his own. >>


    Change "designations" to "colors". We must then assume the quote above applies equally as well to toned coins sold for huge premiums. Heck, we don't even have to redefine "toned" to support the scam. No problem there, right fellas?


    << <i>from what I gathered from this thread, PCGS DEFINED what they meant by the term. So, how can you consider this to be fraud when they disclosed this?? >>


    Sorry ladies, "first strike", by definition, means the first coins struck from new dies. Spin it anyway you want in your little koolaid world, the bottom line is that by labeling coins based on date instead of die life is wrong. It's a "gimmick" intended to extract additional money from the naive. Whether it's $2 or $2,000, the intent is the same. Period.

    But then again, maybe I'm wrong. image
    I wonder if I can get PCGS to reholder all of my 1878 Morgan dollars to say "first strike". I mean after all, my definition of first strike is, well you know, the first year they were struck. image
  • TarmacTarmac Posts: 394
    Coin dealers came up with the idea of special labeling for CAM, DCAM, and probably FSB and many other "to die for" labels of today. And now the collector cannot live without them. Amazing.


    Very well put and reenforces how the hobby has become a bit of a mania when coins are surrounded by plastic.

    Oh, and we can't forget: FBL, FB, FS and the rest of the alphabet soup.

    Nonsense!
  • FullStrikeFullStrike Posts: 4,353 ✭✭✭
    The really sad part is that the assigned grade seems to be meaningless also. Do ALL mass-submitted "First Strike " Coins get a minimum MS or PR 69 grade? Do FS MS68's or 67's exist?
  • CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,364 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What I have learned from this dialog is that I will never pay any sort of premium for a First Strike. I think the designation is misleading - the words First Strike imply just that - a first strike.

    Just a worthless marketing gimmick in my opinion.

    “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

    My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,721 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i> Instead of bowing to the number of posts a forum member has (and who must therefore qualify as the thread expert), open your eyes and read the editorial. I appreciate the posts of those who understand the point I'm trying to get across. >>



    And herein lies much of the problem. We haven't read it. Even if the article is as you say highly
    critical of the practice or the companies it is not overly unusual for them to be extremely cruitical
    of recent issue coins and they have printed articles detrimental to TPG's in the past. They are not
    the final authority either. Customers of the papers, graders, and mint are the final authority.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.

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