PCGS (a division of Collector's Universe), as I established in another guide, has fraudulently labeled coins as "first strikes" that are not first strikes.  The US mint does not have a system to inventory when coins were struck, and the shipping date means absolutely nothing (as the US mint has repeatedly said in press releases, first strike designations are impossible).  PCGS knowingly defrauded the collecting public at large by designating coins as first strikes knowing full well the coins were not in fact first strikes.  After the US mint press releases forced PCGS to admit their "first strike" slabs were bogus, PCGS decided to trademark the long-established hobby term "first strike" and redefine it.  PCGS now claims in on a little webpage that "first strike" means "first shipped".  But the average collector and eBayer will never see this webpage, and will continue to falsely believe that there is some inherent premium in "first strike" coins, or that the slabs labeled as "first strikes" are actually first strikes, when they are not! 

On several discussion threads on the CU forums I pointed out these facts outlined above, and as a result I was banned from the CU forums.  I was given no reason, but we all know the reason.  I join a large list of non kool-aid drinkers that have been banned over the past few months for speaking the truth about Collector's Universe and PCGS' fraudulent labeling practices.  This should serve as a guide both to avoid "first strike" slabs, and to avoid making the mistake of challenging this scam on the CU forums, as you will find yourself similarly banned as so many others in the past.  Is this the behavior of an honest company that has nothing to hide?  I think not. 

For me, the only reputable coin grading service in existance now is NGC.  They do seem to care about collectors, and when called to task about their "first strike" pedigrees, NGC responded honestly--they changed the wording to read "first releases", which is exactly what they are.