Home PCGS Set Registry Forum

Questions for IKE Experts ...

I remember seeing a coin world article years ago about 1976 IKE Proof had turned up somewhere without an "S" mintmark. Does anyone know anything about that variety, where it came from, and if any were ever sold ? I have not heard anymore about this variety since then.

I also am familar with 1974-D, 1977-D, and I believe a 1976-D IKEs that were struck on 40% silver blanks. Has anyone ever figured where they came from ? Were they really dumped by mistake into circulation or were they mailed or smuggled out of the mint ? The ones I've heard about seem to have seen some slight circulation. I remember casino workers looking for these back in the 1970's.

I also remember seeing a photo a very bad 1972-D IKE struck in Silver. It was well worn and mutilated. Does that variety exist as a non-mutilated variety ? What's the story on this coin ?

Comments

  • wondercoinwondercoin Posts: 16,647 ✭✭✭✭✭
    "I remember seeing a coin world article years ago about 1976 IKE Proof had turned up somewhere without an "S" mintmark. Does anyone know anything about that variety, where it came from, and if any were ever sold ? I have not heard anymore about this variety since then."

    I own the coin - it was auctioned off about 3-4 years ago in a Bowers sale. Since then, I placed it in a PCGS=PR66CAM JUDD- 2164 holder, as the coin was assigned a pattern number in the new Judd book. I believe the coin is UNIQUE (see below for brief discussion) as at least (2) of the other coins were melted by the US Mint. I had considered exhibiting the coin along with the fantastic Ike set to be dispayed at FUN in 1/06, but, that set is Mint State and the 1976 Philadelphia Ike is a proof. So, I may exhibit it another day. I was under the impression that just (3) 1976 Proof Ike Dollars were originally struck in Philadelphia before the Mint melted (2) of them following the 1974 exhibit of (2) coins at the ANA Convention. But, I was discussing the coin with PCGS' new President, Ron Guth, last week and he told me he believed (4) coins may have been originally struck, which could keep the possibility open that a second coin exists following the Mint's melting of a pair of coins. Or, the Mint could have melted (3) coins - the 6th Edition of the Judd Book seems to suggest to me that it was their impression that the Mint melted all of the coins? For now, my specimen is the only known example of this Ike Dollar "Pattern".

    Coin Facts Reports The Following Information:

    "Notes:
    Four three-piece sets (Quarter Dollar, Half Dollar, and Dollar) were struck as Proofs but without mintmarks. One set went to then-President Gerald Ford, another to the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission administrator, John W. Warner, another to Treasury Secretary William E. Simon, and the other to Gerald Ford's appointment secretary, Anne L. Armstrong.

    In 1977, a Proof Dollar without mintmark was found in a Washington, DC cash register and later sold by Devonshire Galleries."
    *****************

    www.uspatterns.com reports for 1976, the year for J-2164:

    "This year is marked by the appearance of the Bicentennial quarter, half ... sets were made. The only example known today is of the silver dollar J2164/P2088 According to the Coin World Comprehensive Catalog ..."

    ***************************

    Judd Book (Vol 6) reports:

    "Prior to the preparation of the dies for the Bicentennial issues, trial strikes of the quarter, half dollar and dollar were struck in the Philadelphia mint in proof condition on 40 per cent silver clad planchets. These unique items, of great historic value, might well have been put on display in the Smithsonian Institute. Instead, they were unceremoniously relegated to the melting pot. This insensitive disregard for the history of our coinage leaves no room for consolation. The action is final. Perhaps recording these short-lived momentos of a glorious year will cause them to outlive the thoughtless action...."

    The Bowers Sale traced its auction piece (my coin) to the specimen found in the cash register. Although the coin displays no wear, it has some slight "handling hairlines" reducing the quality to PR66CAM (although the coin could have easily graded DCAM and perhaps even PR67 on a different day - not that it matters). Is the coin the coolest and most significant U.S. 20th Century coin ever produced - to me - absolutely. It is right up there with the SLQ Patterns and perhaps a couple other Unique 20th Century Mint Products.

    Wondercoin
    Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.


  • << <i>Does anyone know anything about that variety >>


    Boy the forums are cool! Someone sure does know a lot about the variety! Great post wondercoin.
  • Wondercoin - Thanks so much for filling in the blanks on the 1976 - P Proof Ike. This is really a facinating coin, congratulation on owning this great coin. It sounds a little odd that the coin would have been spent but then again, this coin could have ended up in the hands of a non-collector. Maybe Gerald Ford was running low on change one day.

    Just out of curiosity, what did the coin bring at auction and what is the value today ?
  • wondercoinwondercoin Posts: 16,647 ✭✭✭✭✭
    "Wondercoin - Thanks so much for filling in the blanks on the 1976 - P Proof Ike. This is really a facinating coin, congratulation on owning this great coin. It sounds a little odd that the coin would have been spent but then again, this coin could have ended up in the hands of a non-collector. Maybe Gerald Ford was running low on change one day. Just out of curiosity, what did the coin bring at auction and what is the value today?"

    Roadman: As I recall, the coin fetched low $40's with the juice back at the auction. The coin is "impounded" in my collection, so there really is no "value" today. I hope to own it for a very, very, very long time. This coin is a fine example of a very cool MODERN coin.

    Wondercoin.

    Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,305 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The coin is one of the coolest moderns since it was officially made and even turned up in circulation.

    I had thought I remembered back in 1975 that six of these sets were made and that some were
    intended to be given to the designers but there primary function was to show what the design
    would look like in finished form. These were made shortly after the final decisions had been made
    and before regular production had started or San Francisco was ready to strike coins. There is no
    indication that the winner of the competition (Jack Ahr) recieved a set so it's improbable that any
    others did.

    My memory could be hazy on this but there's no question that the cash register piece is the only
    one known.
    Tempus fugit.


  • << <i> it was auctioned off about 3-4 years ago in a Bowers sale >>





    << <i>the coin fetched low $40's with the juice back at the auction >>



    What!!!image

    Edited: Oh, you must mean $40K!
  • .....Alrighty then !!

    Place a big 'ole Proof Ike in a cash register , pick it up , put it back in .... show it to your co-cashier , put it back in .

    Stick it in your pocket , drive home ....show it to your spouse ................

    Then a Master Collector sends it off to PCGS and it could go PF-67 on a good day ! !

    A M A Z I N G !
  • wondercoinwondercoin Posts: 16,647 ✭✭✭✭✭
    ownership is worth a point - DH is right!

    Wondercoin image
    Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.


  • I'm really impressed you own it Mitch , i think you are definitly a high roller now ! image
Sign In or Register to comment.