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Nice Ikes are hard to find raw!

FC57CoinsFC57Coins Posts: 9,140 ✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
Not too long ago I bought a set of raw Ikes in a dansco album and ever since I've been trying to look for coins to upgrade the set. This is a nice cheap way to satisfy my coin hunger with my pauper's budget. Anyway, I went hunting for some Ikes today in Louisville, and must've looked though at least 200 individual Ikes and half as many mint sets. The result was pretty pityful. Most Ikes have a tremendous number of minute dings all over them - some even have huge dings. In addition, out of the 4 dealers that I visited today, only 2 carried a supply of uncirculated Ikes. Most had some, but they were mixed with circulated ones in bins or tubes. No sense in looking for gems there since they get manhandled pretty badly. The first picture below is of a graded PCGS MS65 1971D for comparison, the subsequent ones are the best that I found. As you can see the ones I found leave something to be desired. The coins look very nice to the naked eye. All of them have excellent luster and are fairly good strikes - I was somewhat surprised to find 71's that looked half decent. The 76's are a little better, and one may actually make MS65 (the type II).

Being that we sometimes get questions about what to look for in clad Ikes, I thought I'd post a few and see if the "Ugly Head Guys" might chime in with their observations.

PCGS MS65
image

1971D
image
image

1976D Type I
image

1976D Type II
image

Comments

  • LuvdawgsLuvdawgs Posts: 1,512 ✭
    The '76D looks very nice...I'm sure you could get at least a MS65 on that one! I didn't know you were collecting Ikes now. I have a set of Proof Ikes on
    the Registry, but am #84! I like them though.
    image

    image
  • DHeathDHeath Posts: 8,472 ✭✭✭
    Frank,

    Here's my old registry set, with a few pics. All of these were raw submissions except the 72-P. It's still do-able, but man you have to look at a bunch of coins.image Over the years, I've put up about 40 nice rolls, but I went through them about a month ago when I started rebuilding, and the nicest coins in the bunch are 64's. Happy hunting.
    Developing theory is what we are meant to do as academic researchers
    and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
  • FC57CoinsFC57Coins Posts: 9,140 ✭
    It does appear that way Don - the hardest to find in nice condition seem to be the 71/72 non mint set issues and the 76 issues for some reason are usually really banged up.

    Bytheway - for all newbies - Susan (Luvdawgs) is not an "Ugly head guy", she's a lady Ike collector and hotchacha... Don - is an "Ugly head guy" image
  • DHeathDHeath Posts: 8,472 ✭✭✭
    LOL....OK, just for that, I'm gonna post my latest find.image

    image
    Developing theory is what we are meant to do as academic researchers
    and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
  • FC57CoinsFC57Coins Posts: 9,140 ✭
    You SUCK! image
  • jdimmickjdimmick Posts: 9,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Don,
    is that the one you showed me the other day?
  • DHeathDHeath Posts: 8,472 ✭✭✭
    Jim,

    Yes it is. I ended up going back a few days later and buying the roll it came from, along with a pretty choice roll of 72-D's. I missed the D roll on the first trip, but it is a nice original roll, and $25 was too cheap to pass.
    Developing theory is what we are meant to do as academic researchers
    and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
  • FC57CoinsFC57Coins Posts: 9,140 ✭
    $25 for a roll of 20 uncirculated Ikes - can't beat that Kemosabe! image
  • jdimmickjdimmick Posts: 9,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Don,
    great buy!

    I got my self scheduled up that way again this tuesday, ILL stop by on the way back home one more time before the end of the year and see if any thing looks decent to pick up.

    jim

  • XpipedreamRXpipedreamR Posts: 8,059 ✭✭


    << <i> Nice Ikes are hard to find raw! >>




    I prefer them cooked. I think raw Ikes are way too tough.
  • DHeathDHeath Posts: 8,472 ✭✭✭
    Frank,

    Good luck with the quest. It's a great series, and tougher than most would believe. If you're building them raw, I'll bring a holder to FUN for you that no serious Ike guy can be without.image I have two. LOL

    image
    image
    Developing theory is what we are meant to do as academic researchers
    and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
  • FC57CoinsFC57Coins Posts: 9,140 ✭
    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH KEWL!!! GOODIES!!! image

  • LuvdawgsLuvdawgs Posts: 1,512 ✭


    << <i>It does appear that way Don - the hardest to find in nice condition seem to be the 71/72 non mint set issues and the 76 issues for some reason are usually really banged up.

    Bytheway - for all newbies - Susan (Luvdawgs) is not an "Ugly head guy", she's a lady Ike collector and hotchacha... Don - is an "Ugly head guy" image >>



    Thanks, Frank image BTW, I love the goodies that Don is bringing to FUN for you!
    image

    image
  • FC57CoinsFC57Coins Posts: 9,140 ✭
    Yeah - those things are guaranteed to tone coins all good and funky! image
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,733 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i> Nice Ikes are hard to find raw! >>




    >>



    I started collecting clad in 1972 and decided to specialize in quarters because
    I didn't believe gem Ikes existed. It was 1977/78 before I saw my first one.

    They're still out there but not in the numbers they used to be!
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • MSD61MSD61 Posts: 3,382 ✭
    Hey Frank I have a 72-D that is really beautiful. No nicks, scratches or dings. With a fairly good strike and a little of a rainbow tone starting on the reverse. I wish I could show it off because it is really nice. I am not great at grading yet, but looking at pictures of MS64/65 Ikes this one could come very close. It looks very much like the one Dheath has pictured.

    Scanning it will not do it justice and until Christmas I have no digital camera. I also fear that the digital camera I have gotten my wife for a Christmas present ( which is the one I am waiting for)will not take good pics of coins. It's a 3.2 mp camera it most likely will do great for vacation type pics but I don't think it has macro. Freakin fugde sicklesimage

    As I have started collecting Ikes I have come to learn that 1971 was a terrible year for GEM ikes because of the poor dies used. They are out there it's just finding them. I Have a 71-D that would be great if not for the faint scratches on Ike's face. Right now I am 1 Ike short of completing my proof set. Then it's on to business strikes which will be more of a challengeimage I hope to one day find a 71-P type IIimage
    Omnicoin
  • ksteelheaderksteelheader Posts: 11,777 ✭
    You all keep talking, because when I finish my raw Kennedy set with proof strikes, I'm going to do a raw Ike set next with proofs. (By the way, only 38 spaces left in that Kennedy set to fill)
    I had the pleasure as a young Cub Scout to meet Ike personally while touring his farm in Gettysburg!!!!!.....Ken
  • MSD61MSD61 Posts: 3,382 ✭
    ksteelheader,

    Wow that must have been an experience to meet Ike! I met then Vice President Bush in person back in the early 80's as a young servicemen. Only got to see Regan from a distance...LOL!!! Good luck with your Ike sets. As I stated I have one more to complete my proof set. Then it's off to the grading....oh boyimage
    Omnicoin
  • SarasotaFrankSarasotaFrank Posts: 1,625 ✭✭
    My Dad met both Ike and Patton in the war. I remember him ordering Ike dollars in the blue envelopes when they first came out. He was excited about that.

    "I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Grandfather did, as opposed to screaming in terror like his passengers."

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