NGC Population Totals & The Big Sky Hoard (Ikes)

    Coin   Submissions       MS65      MS66    
    1974D         7344        87%        8%    
    1976D         5206        86%        9%    
    1977D        15197        87%       12%    
    1978D         4785        82%       12%    

Compare to PCGS:

    Coin   Submissions       MS65      MS66    
    1974D         2798        51%       15%    
    1976D         3763        54%       21%    
    1977D         2552        52%       17%    
    1978D         2244        40%       23%

The submission totals at NGC signal that these figured do include Big Sky Hoard Eisenhower dollars selected for certification by Littleton. It stands to reason that market will see a disproportionate number of BSH Dollars in NGC holders for these Denver dates.

Looking at the distribution of grades, we see an unusual concentration of MS-65 coins at NGC. Say what you will about the difference between the two firms grading cultures, I'd say any date with 85+% MS-65 out of thousands of submissions is unusual.

My guess is that there was a bulk grading arrangement between the two firms- where coins that "made MS-65" would be holdered (whether they were 66 or 65* or what not) and coins that didn't make 65 wouldn't be holdered and instead sold raw.

When you have 200+ $1000 bags of Ikes to go through, there is no doubt that you will find lots of gems- even in a tough series like the Ike- but to see these types of numbers makes me think that the grade on the holder may not be the grade of the coin.