Getting while the getting is good - Complete Ike set and advice?

Hi all,

As I continue to work on my Peace and Morgan sets (as if I'll ever complete the Morgan set!), I have decided to invest a bit in an Ike for the future while the getting is good.

I'm trying to budget for a complete MS set of Ikes. This would complement my Peace Dollar set that I've been building which is MS64. I think a complete set of MS64 is in the budget, and I will be building a set of "circulated" as well.

I'm seeing several numbers to build a complete set, and varying numbers of coins in what everyone considers a "complete" set. I'd like to start with the circulated set first, and then after learning a bit, I'll work on a graded set after I figure out a complete and realistic budget.

So, my big question is, what do you consider a complete set? Being Ikes, I know they are easily accessible in circulated grade, so I want to collect a specimen of every variety including proofs.

Any advice on a direction and where I can find a complete set listing with varieties? I see several that seem to vary.

Anything I should worry about or avoid in this adventure? I've never studied Ikes and I don't believe anything I read on the internet (except for what I read on cointalk of course!)

Thanks in advance!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

http://www.ikegroup.info/

Great site with a wealth of information. You should be able to pick up a nice Ike set in a Dansco for under $150, just take your time and watch Ebay.

 

Thank you, more reading to do! (couldn't just spoon feed me, eh? )

 

Yep! That price is about right but..............................

It would NOT include the following:

1971-D Type 1 (FEV)
1972 Type 2

It would possibly include one of the following:

1971-S Silver Proof with Straight Leg in the R (PegLeg)
OR
1971-S Silver Proof with a Serifed R

AND

1972 Type 1
OR
1972 Type 3

A full "common circulated" variety set would include 1 of each coin variety excluding doubled dies.

 

My advice is to stay away from MS64 as a "graded set" since you'll end up paying non-existent premiums which you will never recover and, unlike a 90% Silver Coin, you'll never really appreciate an MS64 CnClad IKE.

As for a "circulated set". It could be tough finding circulated versions of the 1971-S through 1976-S Silver Business Strikes. Not impossible but definitely tough. I have found them in 1,000 coin bags ordered from my bank but they are far and few between. Or course, you can always purchase these from other collectors who have found them but then you wouldn't have really "found them". Right?

The problem you'll end up "solving" is that you'll buy the best that you can afford which will usually end up being uncirculated examples. For graded coins, some of the MS66 IKEs are simply dirt cheap anymore so, its not out of the realm of possibility that your MS64 "intentions" won't gravitate towards MS66. BTW, the Silver Business Strike average MS67 which would kinda screw things up from the numbers standpoint. Not to mention the fact that there are some grossly over-grade IKE's out there.

And for the record, no Eisenhower Dollar Set can ever "complement" either a Morgan or Peace Dollar Set.

Whatever you decide, have fun.

 

Much as I hate to hijack a thread, it seems somewhat appropriate here.

I'm also in the market for a few Ikes for a type set (non proofs). Specifically, a bicentennial silver and Cu/Ni, and any other random date silver and Cu/Ni. I'm holding out for nicely toned pieces, though, and those are proving to be a bit of a problem to find. For one thing, a lot of the dealers at the shows I go to don't even bother with Ikes. Then, there's the problem of finding actually nice toners.

Any tips on finding nice toner Ikes?

 

To all, many thanks! I ended up picking up a very nice complete set of Ikes for $165, all appear to be BU, there's probably a few that might grade AU - but overall the complete set is nice. I haven't started getting into the varieties yet - but the mints and dates are complete with a few nice toners, and the proofs are gorgeous.

It wasn't as much fun as building it myself, but I only "like" Ike, where I love Miss Liberty...

 

Hey, congratulations!!!

Paul M., I'd say get very familiar with artificial toning! As far as finding legit NT coins, I'd say study some certified examples to see what can be NT, in hand if at all possible.

If you've done all that, are you buying raw or certified? Buying the right albums or presentations cases with coins in them can be an advantageous way to find NT coins. If you're buying certified, all I can say is I wish you luck and I can't wait to see your coins, Sir!

Back to Brett_in_Sacto, are you going to post them up? Are you going to upgrade or are you satisfied with where you're at in this endeavor?

 

I like Ike's see my sets.

 

I knew there had to be a reason the 71 and 72 graded unc's were so expensive. Thanks for this info as Im in the process of completing my set!