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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;zorro191, post: 2198277, member: 75198&quot;]It is a rather large challenge to put together a high-grade series of copper-nickel made-for-circulation Ikes.&nbsp; I&#039;ve been at it for over 25 years.&nbsp; There are problems with planchet marks and striking such a large coin on cupro-nickel, being bagged with 999 other coins in a bag (like silver dollars), and most of them went to Las Vegas to be used in slot machines.&nbsp; I&#039;ve helped sort through a mint-sewn bag, and have a friend that has gone through several, and there simply aren&#039;t many &quot;gems&quot; or errors to be had.&nbsp; There are a few doubled-dies and RPM&#039;s which are even more of a challenge.&nbsp; I tend to buy raw coins and get the ones with the least flaws and most eye-appeal, and have them slabbed by TPG, more for preservation than grading. I have only bought a few slabbed coins.&nbsp; I&#039;ve seen slabbed MS-66&#039;s that I would grade 63.&nbsp; I&#039;ve seen slabbed 63&#039;s and 64&#039;s that are righteous 65&#039;s.&nbsp; Always buy the coin, and NOT the number on the slab.&nbsp; I guess I enjoy the thrill of the hunt, and the satisfaction of finding a gem or near-gem coin (unfortunately not as often as I&#039;d like) more than the potential investment value.&nbsp; It works for me, but I guess it&#039;s not for everyone.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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