Hi all, I'm interested in purchasing a DCAM Ike proof dollar because I like the reverse with the eagle and 'earth' in the background. My question is that these PCGS graded proof 69 DCAMs seem to vary quite a bit in their cameo contrast, and I'm wondering if 'anything goes' with PCGS and their DCAM designation or is it because some are clad and some are silver? I'm reluctant to buy sight unseen from the 'net if I'm gonna end up with what seems to be really weak cameo contrast like some of these appear to be. I know nothing about this series, any Ike collectors out there that can help? Thanks in advance for any input you may have. -Jeff
I once bought a almost complete collection (Little by little out of a mark down box) of PF Ike dollars...I had all clad and some silver....out of all of the ones I had....1 is still OK...the rest after about a year came out with fingerprints...taking the value down to melt or less...Acetone took the prints off (for awhile at least) but they are still there and can be seen to some point.......I saw the the SILVER coins had better DCAMEO than the CLAD one.... Speedy
I have started working on an Ike set of proofs and uncs. started with proofs first, solely PCGS graded DCAMs and I have noticed a big difference in contrast for similarly graded coins. definitely not good to go sight-unseen. have had some luck on teletrade for a few at decent price but definitely look carefully at pics. actually have couple extras i'm willing to trade for something for my type set...if interested send pm. teletrade is also good just for getting feel of what they look like. julian
Apparently, the softer silver proofs 'struck up' better than the 'harder' clad material proofs. Maybe PCGS takes that into account when grading the clads. I have seen quite a bit of variability though between cameo contrasts among DCAM silver proofs. I'm really not interested in the obverse, the 'high' grade, or the slab. I just want an example with the reverse having a really nice cameo contrast and untoned fields. If I buy a slab, the only reason I would leave the coin in it is because I've seen a lot of Ikes in mint packaging that were spotted and 'milky' toned all over the fields. Yuck!!! Can a person put something around the sealing edge of a PCGS slab to make it airtight?
Well jeff you just made a great example of the biggest problem I have with PCGS - they are very inconsistent. Don't get me wrong - none of the grading companies are perfect, far from it. But when it comes to consistency in grading - PCGS is sadly lacking in my book.
I agree. I only own 1 slab. Do you know if PCGS or NGC is more conservative in their 'cameo' grading standards? Or ANACS or ICG? I like graders who are VERY conservative.
I'm watching one on eBay right now that seems to fit my requirements, but it is already in a PCGS slab. Sam I am, I don't like green eggs and ham....I mean slabs!! lol
Anacs is very conservative in my opinion, I sent off a coin and it came back pr-65 , and then sent it to pcgs who gave it a proof 67 deep camo
Arrrgh!!! I just bid on this one at the end of the auction. I bid with 30 seconds left and had a plenty high enough bid to win, but when I clicked on 'confirm bid', it said the auction was over!! Dang it. #%$&*@ eBay
Now you have hit on the reason why coins in PCGS slabs sell for more - it's because many collectors believe PCGS is the most conservative when it comes to grading. The key word there is believe. But after a few years of studying the coins they (PCGS) slab and comparing them to each other - you begin to find out otherwise. One day they are conservative - next day they aren't So the question to me is this. Which would you rather have - a grading company that is conservative one day and not the next - or a company that shows the same degree of conservatism day after day after day ? Now I don't know about you - but I know which one I'd choose
I have to agree with that as well. That's why I like ICCS graded Canadian silver dollars. They seem to be consistent AND very conservative. After looking at quite a few Ike dollars, they all seem to be PCGS PR69 DCAM....I would never buy a PCGS graded coin sight unseen after what I'm encountering now. I see PCGS 69DCAMs that I wouldn't pay $5 for, and I see some that I'd pay $50 for. Same grade. I'm learning to never blindly trust what any slab says....I once ended up with a '69-S PR68 DCAM Kennedy half graded by PCGS and the fields are all 'hazy'. If I had seen the coin in advance, I wouldn't have paid $5 for it. And many dealers say 'no returns on slabs'. I guess that's one way to get rid of crappy coins....
But who was right??...ANACS or PCGS??...I would go with ANACS...PCGS seems to overgrade rare and harder to find coins....they just do...and so in that case...I think ANACS was right. Speedy
Slabs can't be made truly airtight becaus the plastic itself is porous enough that eventually contaminant gasses will difuse right THROUGH the plastic of the slab. The reason why the silver DCAM's seem to have more contrast than the clads is due to the reflective qualities of silver. Silver reflects over 95% of the light that falls on it, if you have a clad and a 40% silver DCAM coin with the exact same amount of contrast, the silver coin will scatter and reflect more of the light falling on the devices than the clad one will making the devices lighter, whiter, and apparently with more contrast to the fields.
The most recent NGC slab is currently listed as NGC 16 and looks like this: It uses the same front label seen on the previous couple of varieties but the back hologram is now larger and includes the PNG logo marking their endorsment of NGC as their official grading service. These were introduced around Dec of 2004 I believe. I haven't checked my notes to see if I have a more accurate date. OK, checked the notes, this slab was introduced November 18th 2004. I do not make any public comments about my opinions as to the grading abilities of the various services. Suffice to say that I think they are all inconsistant, but who isn't.
