Ike Dollar

I was asked in the JFK thread to share some of the same sort of info on the Ike dollars. Yes they STILL can be had from the Fed, at least the Chicago bank. You have to find a bank that gets coins from the FRB. NF String rolls are a good indication for this. Brinks and most other armored carriers don't want to mess with IKEs, and send them to the FED instead of re rolling them when they get them. Getting anyone to order them can be a pain. The weight and size of these coins is a big negative for armored carriers. It may take some serious buttering, and education of your local bank to get these coins.

40% SILVER can be found in them. S mint Uncirc and Proof. Like the Halves, coins intended for collectors slip in, and since the Ikes are not heavily searched they show up more readily. Clad proof Ikes show too.

Ikes are a much shorter series. So the varieties are often counted in the total list.

You can bone up on 1972 Philly types here.
http://www.supercoin.com/iketypes/

The 1976 Ikes are easier.
The type one (also called the "1975 Ike") has a bolder font on back. The R leg is funny
The Type two has a more delicate font. The R leg is curved.

Because this list is so short. I will list each coin and my observations.

1971 Subject to heavy hoarding and bad strikes
1971 D Subject to heavy hoarding and bad strikes
1972 Type I
1972 Type II KEY, Rare coin made from one Die
1972 Type III SEMI Key, Made from HARDER Die steel at end of year
1972 D
1973 KEY, Mint Set Coin
1973 D KEY, Mint Set Coin
1974
1974 D
1976 (1975) Type I SEMI KEY, Much lower mintage then the D coin
1976 (1975) Type I D
1976 Type II
1976 Type II D
1977 SEMI KEY, Lowest circulation mintage.
1977 D
1978
1978 D

The Rest show up commonly. The Most common are the 1972 Type 1, 1972 D, and the 1976 Type II issues. The rest fall in behind the others equally. I personally have problems finding 1977Ds, more so then their mintage should suggest.

The Clad proof and silver issues can and do show up in Fed Boxes. The only caveat is the large empty fields on the obverse are easily scratched up. Good thing Ikes circulate even less them halves.

Now don't bet the farm on this. But should someone spend a peace or Morgan dollar and it manage not to be nabbed by a bank employee, Theoretically they would get wrapped with ikes and sent back out in boxes. The Treasury is really NOT wanting to eat the reverse seignorage on any coin, this is why the Ikes are still available.
In reality, most spent 90% dollars are grabbed before making it back to the fed. I DO know of people who have found them in circulation

I have been told that spent eagle coins (old or new) are culled and sent to the treasury's Bullion program to be melted and remade. But I am wandering off topic