I read through another thread on here from 2010 that touched on this, but it didn’t help with my dilemma. I have a 1973S proof Ike in the mint holder with brown box. If there was an insert that came with it it’s gone. Because of the black plastic holding the coin I cannot see the edge of the coin. Does anyone know how to tell if it is Silver clad or Copper/Nickel clad while still in the holder?
This is from what is called a "Brown Ike" -- the box it came in is brown and looks wood-grained. The interior is a red felt. Anyway, this is 40% Silver. They were made from 1971-1974. You actually have the harder one to find out of the four. I guess it is possible somebody removed the silver coin and replaced it with a clad version, but I have several of these from every year and have never run across that problem.
I've been collecting Ikes for awhile and i typically stay away from "brown ikes" Dont know if it's the packaging or what, but they typically get a cloudy or hazy look. Yours doesnt appear to have that yet. If it was mine I would carefully remove it and put it in a different holder and then you could look at the rim to know for sure if it is silver. But that's just what I would do.
Non silver for this year ( 73 ) are: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel over a pure Copper center . Silver for this year ( 73 ) are: Outer layers - 80% Silver, 20% Copper; Center - 79% Copper, 21% Silver .
It sits with 4 1971 s proofs, two are the peg leg. All are in the brown wood-grained boxes, but none have the paper inserts I’m used to seeing with mint proof pieces. The red book shows a non silver clad for 1973 but I don’t want to pop it out of the case to see. I’d rather leave it in the mint case so it’s legitimately original.
Evan8 is correct. Most of the ones I have are beginning to haze over, although some of my better ones are not (yet). It should be 40% silver. I actually prefer to get the "blue" Ikes. Same content, easier to store.
It is original, the brown Ikes did not have any papers stating composition or Certificates of Authenticity.
