Help me grade this Ike please

JxnBoy

I bought this for $8 at the local shop. Is this average? Dealer simply called it BU, but it looks at least 64 to me, but what do I know? It's the first Ike I've bought for more than face, so I figured I couldn't go too wrong at that price. I want to put together a decent raw set in an album. Good start or go back and do more research?

ziggy29

Good shot at 64, I think -- certainly at least 63.

Rampage

My opinion is MS63/64. Pretty coin.

wam98

I think your coin would grade MS-63 or 64. I don't think you overpaid for it either. The 73's were only in mint sets. I'm looking for the 73 P,D, and both S mints raw. I have the P and D in my mint sets but don't want to break them out for my Ike set.

poptopsRus

63 to 64

JxnBoy

Thanks, guys. As far as grading, what keeps this from a higher grade? The fields look really clean, except for the reeding marks on the reverse. I guess there are some scattered contact marks too.

Is the earth always weakly struck west of North America as it is on this reverse?

ldhair

Just a few contact marks seem to keep these from being a 65.
This only made 64.

ziggy29

<< <i>Just a few contact marks seem to keep these from being a 65.
This only made 64. >>

The TPGs are notorious for being tight about giving a 65 grade to Ikes.

ldhair

<< <i>The TPGs are notorious for being tight about giving a 65 grade to Ikes. >>


Very true.
I quit trying for 65's.
To me 64's make me feel I wasted my money.

keets

hey Jxnboy

i see your coin as probably a lock at MS64 with a shot at MS65, depending on how much your lighting in the picture accentuates the planchet flaws on the cheek/neck. 1973's were a Mint Set only coin and probably have a bit more expected of them to reach the higher grades.

what's misunderstood about Ikes is that much of what seems to be bag marks or post strike contacts are actually unstruck-up planchet flaws. to judge real contacts you should focus on the obverse hair, the reverse eagle at the neck/down through the leg and the fields on both sides but especially the obverse. on gem coins the fields can be quite attractive and unmarked with great luster and a satin look.

al h.

Shamika

The fields look nice, but I see several slide marks and a good sized hit in the neck above the mint mark.

MS64

Gandyjai

$8 is a great price for that coin!..........64

Brian

I LOVE Ikes!

fivecents

The 1973 P/D Ikes are mint set only coins, even so they tend to look beat to heck. Yours looks MS65ish except for the marks on the obverse device. I would say no better than a MS64.