Jeff Garrett’s Guide to Coin Strike Characteristics: How to Spot Rare Coins.
Collecting coins is an exciting hobby that not only connects you to history but also offers the potential for discovering rare and valuable items. Among the many factors that make a coin valuable, the "strike character" plays an important role.
Jeff Garrett, a leading figure in numismatics, is known for his work in coin collecting and for sharing insights on what makes some coins rarer and more valuable than others.
Coin strike characters refer to the details that appear on a coin’s surface as a result of the minting process. The strike refers to how well the design elements (like letters, numbers, and images) were pressed onto the coin when it was made.
A good strike means the details are clear and crisp, while a poor strike might result in coins with blurry or weak features.
In Jeff Garrett’s guide, he explains how certain types of strike defects or rare strike features can increase the value of a coin. Coins with unique strikes are often considered rarities, especially when they were made with special minting techniques .
The rarity and value of a coin can be greatly affected by how it was struck at the mint. If a coin has a unique or particularly strong strike, it may be considered a rarity.
On the other hand, coins with weak or irregular strikes can be less valuable, though in some cases, these errors can be highly sought after by collectors.
The process of creating a coin involves pressing a die onto metal, and the quality of that die and the force applied during striking can vary.