...with the blue toning? Do they consider the color not market acceptable? Or is it just a coincidence in the market that I can't find any for sale? Or do collectors generally prefer to keep them in the original holders?
That's called haze. It's considered unattractive, and would lower the grade, so it's not worth certifying.
I agree, I don't believe it is toning, it is some kind of outgassing from the holder that is deposited on the coin. It's a bit of an exaggeration but to me it's like calling PVC slime "Green toning".
Some do and some don't. It's just like it is with any other collector coins issued by the mint, some prefer to keep them in original packaging and others do not. Ten to fifteen years ago you could go to a coin show and find all the brown box Ikes you wanted, usually for about $5-$7 each. But since then popularity for Ikes has increased and they just aren't as common as they used to be. Same can be said for all other collector coins issued as well. As for the haze commonly found on these coins, it can be removed easily enough by those who know what they are doing, and without harming the coin. But finding high grade or ultra-high grade examples, of any coin from that era are the exception rather than the rule.
You can generally find a handful of them on eBay, in the original packaging. But I do prefer a slab when it comes to protecting a coin that's been toned just right, even though I know it's not a guarantee that the coin won't spoil if the slab is poorly stored. I'm concerned that leaving them in the original packaging will eventually cause the attractive blue haze to go ugly, due to continued outgassing. I suppose the best solution is to the find the coins that appeal to you most, and send them in to be graded, nevermind the grade. I know some guys will come along and say, "Just use airtites" - but I'm not a big fan of airtites.
John, At least from my looking over the past several months the blue-toned ones for some reason don't seem to have many already slabbed. Not sure why that is as I think the ones with nice blue colors are attractive. You'll find plenty of the rainbow-toned ones that have been slabbed (as you've seen in the other thread). I think your best bet would be to get one raw and have it slabbed if you like it. That's what I'll be doing with mine eventually. And, I'll respectfully disagree with Mr. Luster up there. The white hazing might be unattractive, that I might agree with, but the blue coloring, as like the one in my avatar, I find very attractive and I personally don't think it has an ill effect on the grade. Do I have any hard statistics to prove it, no, that's just my opinion.
Yeah, until they roll off on you... I prefer the hard plastic square 2x2's, they're much easier to work with in my opinion.
It's a mixed bag. I find that the ones that don't have enough "haze" just seem, well...hazy. But when the haze takes over, like the coin in your avatar, you get stunning eye appeal.
Indeed. Take these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-S-PROOF-EISENHOWER-DOLLAR-40-SILVER-COIN-No-Reserve-K53-/310654922158?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item485479edae http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-EISENHOWER-UNITED-STATES-PROOF-DOLLAR-IN-HOLDER-AND-BOX-PKG-BY-US-MINT-/251261971882?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item3a80616daa I would say these are a good example of the haze having not great eye appeal to me. Meanwhile, something like this I think has the ability to be appealing in hand: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-PROOF-EISENHOWER-DOLLAR-BROWN-IKE-40-SILVER-/281094553319?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item41728a7ee7 I guess it could be said/argued that this isn't "real" toning in the sense of what you'd see on say a 90% quarter, Franklin or dime, but whatever it is, haze or real tone, it can still be attractive.
Ugh. The black spots on the obverse of the last one are unfortunate. Other than that, it's got fabulous blueness.
There in lies the problem with Brown Box Proof Ikes since the coins (1971S-1974S) originally cost $10.00 each to purchase. Nobody wants to hang on to a loser and to many dealers and collectors, these coins cost them money over the long haul. A quick dip in E-Z-Est will remove the haze but the coin then needs to be rinsed thoroughly followed by a dip in 91% Alcohol to minimize spotting. A nice coin with that bluish haze can be ruined. Additionally, proof coins that have a haze on them, beit blue, green, gray, or whatever, are limited in grade and designation. With enough haze, a DCAM or even CAM is out of the question. Yes, the coin might have great eye appeal, but it'll have trouble getting the CAM designation(s). Here's a "greenie" in PR68DCAM: Here's a 1971-S with the blue haze which I kinda like: And here's one with blue haze and gold toning that PCGS Graded at PR66CAM: To answer the OP's question, most collectors (and dealers) would prefer to leave the coins in the OGP instead of spending the money to get them graded at less than desireable grades.
Thanks Lee! I'm not really interested in the grade, but if and when I find one with the eye-appeal I want, I'd prefer to seal it in plastic, and as I said, I don't care for airtites.
I don't think I agree with "outgassing from the holder" since if that were the case, wouldn't ALL of them have this haze? I think, and this is only a guess, that it has to do with the rinsing procedured used during the creation of the blanks. Some of the years have distinctive toning patterns such as the 1974-S while others have a tendency to turn blue such as the 1971-S and some of the 1972-S. 1972 had some which turned green. I'm just not really sure but I would not blame the holder. Of course thats just my opinion.
I don't think there is a single cause, I think it's a combination of several things. And just like it is with any toning, the resulting look can vary greatly depending on which of those things are present, not present, and when they are present or not present during the life of the coin.
