question on Ike's, and PF vs MS designations

Geoman

I am thinking about starting a registry set on Ike Dollars. I see that there are 2 sets available, the circulation series, and the Proof series. However, when searching auctions and other info to gain a better understanding, I am confused by the designation given by PCGS. Some of the auctions I looked at said "1978-S MS65" and some said "1978-S MS65 Silver." Aren't all "S" mints silver? Along with that, and what I really want to know, is how do you tell if it is a Proof Ike or a Circulated strike Ike? Does PCGS label their holders as Proof somewhere to designate it? One finally questsion, some of the auctions I looked at said "Deep Cameo" but the seller goes on to say that "Deep Cameo" is not noted on the holder. Do the older holders not specify this? And it really is? Or is the seller trying to pull a fast one? Thanks for any help.

-Geoman

DRG

PCGS does specify proof from mint state on the holder. Proof coins are graded "PR" and then the grade, "DCAM" is also specified by PCGS for proof coins. "MS" is the designation for mint state coins.All "S" mint marked Ike's are not proof or silver. If you look in the RED BOOK you will see a list of all the different Ike's.

Hope that helps.

osirisMMII

Some proof Ikes (and Kennedys, and Jeffersons, and Roosies, etc) were slabbed prior to PCGS using the CAM/DCAM designation so it is possible to find an "undesignated" deep cameo coin but not real common.

CarlWohlforth

Some proofs look deep cameo but don't quite meet the standard. They may have a frost break somewhere or may have less cameo contrast on the reverse.

Any deep cameo proof coin in a blue label PCGS holder will say DCAM on the holder. Some grading services are not quite as strict as PCGS when it comes to Cameo or Deep Cameo designations. So don't think you are getting a bargain by buying a DCAM from a different service. Chances are it will not cross to PCGS at the same grade.

cladking

Barring a few oddballs the following is true:
All P & D mint Ikes are copper nickel and made for circulation. The 73 P & D did
not actually get issued for circulation and were only in the mint sets. The '71 &
'72 Ike did not appear in mint sets. '75 mint sets contain the type 1 and '76 has
the type 2. Some 71 thru 74 Ikes were made in 40% silver and these have the
S mint mark. Each of these dates appear in both unc and proof. It's generally not
difficult to tell them apart because they look much different. There are four bicen-
tennial S mints. There is a 40% silver unc, a 40% silver proof, and type 1 & 2 cu/ni
proofs. There are also '77 & '78 cu/ni proofs with S mints.

There are some nice varieties in this series and some true rarities. Most of the uncs
in high grade are most easily found in mint sets, but not all.

Good luck.