Weak Strikes

JrGMan2004

I recently bought a 1944-S Mercury Dime in MS66. It has a gunmetal grey toning that mutes the muster just a shade. Looking at it from a hits and luster standpoint, it's a Technical 66, IMHO. But, it has a pretty weak strike. The central bands are completely flat. The reeds in the lower portion of the fasces are very mushy, even running together in some places, and there is also flat spots and loss of detail ion the hair. Shouldn't a weak strike like this keep this coin from getting into a 66 holder?

Thank you for your time, David.

homerunhall

It is my view that MS66 coins must be "sharply struck." However, for non-band Mercury dimes, the bands can be somewhat flat, as long as the rest of the coin is sharp. But they can't be like a pancake and be MS66.

Thanks,

David