Ike Dollars - Unlike Any Other Moderns

itsnotjustme

While Ike Dollars are modern, they have several factors making them different than most other modern coins.

- Only modern large size coin (non-commem).
- No longer in production.
- Two newer series of dollars produced since.
- Produced for only 8 years... unlike our other circulating coins (note circulating... SBAs and Sacs don't count)
- Multiple types/varieties/metals in short 8 year life.
- 2 out of 16 business strike coins only in mint sets.
- All are now 25+ years old

cladking

Also remember that four of the coins didn't appear in mint sets at all.

But:
-Post 1964 quarters have been produced in more metals.
-"22" different series of quarters have been produced since the eagle reverse coin.
-All of the quarters are available in circulation today.
-Many dozens of varieties have been produced in the quarters.
-Clad quarters are older than Ikes.
-There is a wide range of grades and dates of eagle coins in circulation.
-Clad quarters had significant face value when production started (about $1.25 in 2003 $'s)

It would be difficult to find any modern coin which fit the stereotype. There are lots of exceptions.

itsnotjustme

Yeah but, but

- Ikes have a former president's head on the coin; the only dollar coin to do so.
- Ikes are the only dollar coin with a male portrait.
- An Ike in 1971 had as much buying power as 4 Washingtons.

... so there!

cladking

Yeah but.

-The Washington is the only quarter to have a presidents head on it.
-Washington is the only male on a quarter.
-A 1978 dollar had the buying power of only two 1965 quarters. (when new)

But ya gotta love Ike!

braddick

Yes, but there are Peacock Ikes and NO "Peacock" Washingtons.
Case closed.

cladking

Hey! My eagle can beat up your eagle!

Mine has arrows AND air. Yours has an olive branch and a really big problem!

dbldie55

They are both butt ugly, so I guess it's a tie.

cladking

<< <i>They are both butt ugly, so I guess it's a tie. >>



Hey! Yours doesn't even have an eagle. Barber couldn't come up with a real design for the reverse so he put a big letter on it.

Nysoto

Ikes are the only modern coin I collect, except for state quarters with my kids. I like Ikes.

supercoin

And the Ike reverse is among the best designs in US coinage, and commemorates what is arguably mankind's greatest achievement to date. (By the way, the space program had its roots in the Eisenhower administration, which ties things together nicely.)

The number of types in the short life are a huge plus for me... great variety. No row-upon-row of coins indistinguishable except for their date. There are 34 major dates/types in two metals and proof/business versions of them, including a bunch of bicentennials.

But mostly, they're the last of the big-time dollars, man. Never again will a coin as mighty as the Ike roam the pockets of the American streets.

No contest, Ikes are the king of clad.

cladking

The post 1964 quarter honors who many consider our finest president. He is still
"first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." He has also
been first into the purses, and pockets of modern Americans for many years. There
are far more varieties (if not types) and the coins were ignored more completely and
longer by collectors.

The large number of dates made for the quarters (which also extends back to 1932),
also increases the challenge of completing a set. It increases the probability of good
dates (like the '69) just by increasing the number and age of the set.

I'll have to give you the design argument. While the quarter is a handsome enough
coin, it certainly doesn't have the majesty of the Ike design.

Washington might have been king. Ike would have been impeached had he tried.

...everybody loves Ike!










4th paragraph added.