Ike Dollars; Question For Those Who Buy At The Bank. .

Three things:

First, bring an Ike to the bank with you and show it to the teller. Most tellers have no idea what they are - until they see one. Then they say "Oh, yeah, we get those sometimes" or "Nope, never seen one of those before".

Second, half the banks I go to won't even talk to me because I'm not a customer. I've been treated like a thief at some banks for asking! Having said that, there's no magic trick to finding Ikes, but being polite always helps - and don't go when the bank is busy, nobody wants to know you when there's a line!

Third: I want all the Ikes so don't go looking for them around here!!


Good luck in your search.

In my limited experience dealing with U.S. banks, all have been friendly when I ask for rolls, even though I'm not a customer. Most don't carry dollar coins, or if they do, only have a limited supply. To get Ikes I think you just have to be at the right place at the right time. I got lucky the last time I was in the U.S., but I don't expect this to happen again. I echo Jeffbuckes in that you should bring an example of one with you. Younger tellers may not have seen them before.

I bought lots of Ikes from 2008-2014. Gave 'em for tips and to friends. Last lot of 165 I turned down, went back later and teller said they're gone.

Carry one as a pocket piece, then you'll always have an example to show the tellers when you ask for Ikes. I have not carried an Ike pocket piece for a number of years, but I prefer the silver ones for this purpose.

I've only ever found them loose, 2-3 at a time, once got as many as 17. I've never tried to order rolls or boxes but my bank is extremely nice and if it something they could do, they probably would for me. The only issue is my dump bank does not take them in their coin counter, and while they have said they would take them at the desk, I'm assuming they only meant a few at a time, and not thousands.

If you roll them, they may actually be willing to take them in a large quantity. As a bank teller, I get asked for these frequently, so it's not like they won't be able to unload them fairly easily. And don't be quick to dis the fact that the coin counter won't take the big dollars....I've gotten a couple Morgans and a Peace dollar (not to mention many Ikes) this way, because the machine won't take them.

I too have been searching for Ikes. I ask at multiple banks in my area. The tellers never have rolls, only a few loose coins in the drawers. I've asked if they have wrappers and it is always a no, and they cannot order them. It seems that many people just keep them whenever they find them. I don't turn them back into bank, as there are a couple people in the local coin club that will take just about all I find and cannot use myself. Good luck searching. If you come up with an novel way to acquire them, please post it . I would be interested.

1k per bag? Awesome. Now all I have to is find someone selling bags of Ikes. Any leads?