Clad Ike dollars how tough are they in MS67?
cointime
Posts: 2,013 ✭✭✭✭✭
Ok. We have had a lot of topics to push those unwanted posts ttb. I wanted to hear about some IKE dollars. Last I looked there were over 100 sets listed. I was thinking about starting one, but it looks very competitive 
Anyway, How tough do you think it is to make a MS67 in a (non-silver or proof) clad? I do have access to the pops and it would seem to be a real challenge. I have heard PCGS is tough. Are they as tough as say 3-5 years ago when I think most of the now MS67's are from? Do you think they are still just as tough? Tell me what kind of "look" an IKE needs to have to make the grade. Does the dark grey toning that clads get cover up or hide marks or is PCGS just being conservative on giving some of these coin only a MS66?
Ken
p.s. I would like to see some pictures if anyone has them. I would think that as scarce as they seem the top IKE guys would have pictures, but they don't. Any reason why?
Anyway, How tough do you think it is to make a MS67 in a (non-silver or proof) clad? I do have access to the pops and it would seem to be a real challenge. I have heard PCGS is tough. Are they as tough as say 3-5 years ago when I think most of the now MS67's are from? Do you think they are still just as tough? Tell me what kind of "look" an IKE needs to have to make the grade. Does the dark grey toning that clads get cover up or hide marks or is PCGS just being conservative on giving some of these coin only a MS66?Ken
p.s. I would like to see some pictures if anyone has them. I would think that as scarce as they seem the top IKE guys would have pictures, but they don't. Any reason why?
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Comments
Ikes because I just never saw a nice Ike. Indeed it was the late 1970's before I found my
first really nice Ike in a mint set. It was a 77-(p). After this I looked much harder for them
and did find some even in dates that are rare. The other denominaions are often available
as gems only in mint sets but the Ikes are reported to have also turned up in rolls and bags.
Through out the 80's I'd occasionally run into someone who was looking for Ikes in the same
mint sets I was checking. I'd also hear stories of collectors going through sets to find the gem
Ikes. In the mid '80's there were also starting to be a few people looking for halfs and by the
early '90's the cents and nickels were added to the list. Today there are a few people still do-
ing this, but finding quantities of original sets is becoming much more difficult. For the main part
there is a huge tendency for sets that have been picked over to be cut up shortly afterward be-
cause they come together mainly to be used as fodder for making the date/mm sets of which the
public has long been so fond. The fact that the sets are worth more as individual or rolls of coins
also tends to dictate that these sets get destroyed.
With the dollars though there are just too many people who have been looking for too long for
the coins which are too scarce. Where these coins were tough before they are far tougher now.
Most groups of sets have even had the second and third tier gems removed. There are still some
original mint sets with Ikes out there but they are still quite hard to find in them.
If you look at a hundred Ike mint sets chosen at random on the market you'd probably have only
about 20 original sets for Ikes.
Another factor was alluded to by the author. Significant percentages of the Ikes in these sets
have had a tough twenty five years. Many are tarnished or unattractive and several of those
nice original Ikes are going to be unattractive even if they did start out as gems.
There are ways to greatly increase your chances of locating good sets but the odds of finding
an MS-67 are still against you. This is one of the few coins that I'd recommend that people buy
slabbed.
Even in PCGS slabs, there are clad MS67 dogs. Go to teletrade and search the last 6 years auctions. You'll could find some pictures. Some of PCGS MS67 clad coins are mind-blowers and you simply can't believe such kind of Ike dollars ever existed. Some of PCGS MS67 clad coins are DOGs. With today's grading standards, I simply don't know whether they could go into MS66 holders or not. Even buying slab coins, try to buy sight-seen if you can.
There are many very high end PCGS MS66 Ike dollars. I think there are much fun to hunt them down. From the value point of view, they are much cheaper then MS67 Ike dollars. From the quality point of view, they might be better than some inside MS67 holders.
Pictures..... I need to learn how to make nice photos before I will post mine.
I've made MS70 Gold Commem
I've made MS67 76-S Ike
I've made 2xMS68 76-S Kennedy
I've mage 2xMS68 76-S Washington
I've made MS67 54-S Roosevelt
I've made 2xMS67FS 2001-P Jefferson
I've madew 3xMS69RD Lincolns
I've never made an MS67 Clad Ike
Going through mint sets will rarely even yield a 66 and very few 65s. Unfortunately, 67s cost a lot of money, and they should. High end 66s are probably a bargain. Just be very choosey.
What to look for in a 67. Blazing luster. Beautiful toning if toned. Great strike in IKEs hair and eagle feathers. Well defined rim. Smooth portrait, and lack of marks on eagle high wing points. Clean fields. Good luck.
Greg
Ike Specialist
Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986
I have been searching for several years now and have not made one. I came into a bag of 1,000 1972 D Ike's that was incredible once. I made about 10 MS66 coins and at least 50 MS65's but no MS67's. As far as mint sets go I have made a few MS66 of several dates including a 76D T1 but again not a single coin I even thought should go MS67.
The one MS67 clad Ike I do own is good for the grade but not great. It is certainly better then any of the MS66's.
I agree with the advice that looking for and holding onto high quality MS66 coins is the way to go. I have found some MS66's that are incredible for the grade and others that are real dogs.
The series is both fun and challenging to collect in high grade.