While getting some Brown Ikes ready for listing, I encountered something interesting (maybe). All of them have varying degrees of milky hazing. That apparently is normal for those left in their original Mint packaging. BUT The two 1974's also have a hint of rainbow toning. And ONLY the 1974's. And less milky hazing. I wonder if the Mint made some sort of packaging change that year. Maybe it's something to keep an eye out for considering the general interest in toned coins. BTW, the small red linear pieces are on the outside of the case (not on the coin) and are from the fuzzy Mint packaging.
That is odd, maybe there was more sulfer content that year, maybe they were kept in a different place for a few years, etc. I've often seen the 71,72 with bad hazing but les so the 73 and 74. Don't really know why.
I have the 1971 and 1973 Brown Box Ikes and mine are almost the same way. Actually, I have yet to see any of these that dont look cloudy.
The only thing rare or different about Ikes is, The only thing rare or different about Ikes is that people still buy the things - no, just kidding, well not really, always remember that a good Ike is a sold and leave my possession Ike. Just kidding, well, Seriously though it's probably the time frame just being later also a thought just come to me, (a rare occurrence) you know, the early 1970's was about the time when we first had air conditioning and that might qualify as a consideration. But all this talk about Ikes has sort of depressed me I must move on now as I am sure you Ike lover will be pleased about that.
It most likely has more to do with how they have been stored since 1974 than the make up of the packaging. Temperature swings and high humidity can really mess with the surface of a coin.
I think the alloy used in Eisenhower Dollars actually allows for that to happen and I've seen them before. Ruben
