Ike Dollars

I like Ike! At least the general anyway. That dude had to have some brass bells to launch D-Day when he did. No wonder he was a chain smoker.

But I believe the reason the coin is not so popular with coin collectors is because of Morgans. Morgans are the king when it comes to dollars. Peace dollars aren't that popular right now either and they're silver.

People that start out on Morgans pretty much have their hands full for awhile, maybe even for the rest of their life. Maybe for several life times if they get into VAMs.

Ikes have had their moments in the past but not very much. Blue and Brown Ikes were very popular for awhile during the 1979-80 bull market.

The late Steve Kaden--(Catman) made an interesting comment once about Ikes. How do grade a coin with a bald guy on it?

Don't let it discourage you! If no one else wants to collect them that leaves more for you at better prices.

It does seem strange to me that a coin that celebrates one of the greatest triumphs of mankind let alone the United States is not more popular. I suppose when the centenary of the moon landing comes around every one will want them!! I have a few of them myself including the 1971 silver clad. Well I had to get that one it was the year of my birth!!!

I think there's a couple reasons there not more popular.As others have said one reason being their a clad coin and the silver coins seem to be the hot ticket right now, I suppose for there value. The second reason I feel could be because of a somewhat plain obverse,It just does not attract collectors.I have to say I would much rather look at Miss Liberty and all the fine detail then Ike's bald head.

Ike was President when I was born ,so they have a special meaning to me also and I made a point to get the Ike Commemorative coin.I would like to have the complete Ike dollar set someday also,its just not a high priority right now.
Ralph,you should be proud of owning that set.What it means to you is whats important.

Yeah, I like the way the set looks in the Dansco Album, and, too, I was born in 1948 so I was just a pup when Eisenhower was president, but I can remember seeing the Ike dollars in circulation.
I agree that they would be too cumbersome to carry around for spending purposes, and clad coins aren't in demand the way silver coins (for the most part) are.
They may not be attractive to some, but they are, in my opinion, necessary for any dollar collection to be complete.

I wonder how many school kids, or young adults for that matter, would recognise the portrait and say WHO is on the coin.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was not so much a famous president as much as a famous general. His portrait on the coin is not glamorous, but the designer had little to work with as Ike was not a pretty man.

I think the designs of this coin are a bit of a mis-match.
The moon scene instantly makes me think of President Kennedy not President Eisenhower. It's the view of the small earth (with a larger than life USA)that gives the impression that the eagle is on the moon as the craters are not all that identifiable. To me the design is so unreal that I worry the eagle is about to die in the cold vacuum of space. The eagle also has lost his arrows and is only carrying the peaceful leaves with both claws, very symbolic.

On the Bicentennial coin the Liberty bell was added with the moon in the background. I think of the Ben Franklin half dollars each time I see the bell and again half the moon seems crater-less.

As a collector, I think the large size of the coin is the best thing going for it. Size cannot be why these were not popular as this coin was replaced by the much smaller Susan B Anthony dollar which also did not prove popular. I gather neither is the Sacagawea dollar popular.

I have heard that each design has to stay for a number of years. When was that law brought in? Eisenhower dollars lasted only eight years and Susan B Anthony only a few.

I would probably get some of the 40% silver ones in the future just so I could say I have a couple. Mainly the only reason I have Kennedy half dollars at the moment also. I am not a collector of them but a dabbler just to have a few. I suppose the lack of appeal for me is that they are clad but my views are changing on this as time goes by and the more world coins I see whose composition is mostly made of nickel, copper, brass or some other non noble metal and lots of them are nice so I can't say that just because our current coinage is clad that I wouldn't collect a few whereas in the past I would have said no silver no way.

*Edited because I can't seem to finish a thought these days from being sick*

A lot of people hate clad so simply wouldn't consider collecting them. Also they are modern. Many people just assume all moderns are hopelessly common and uncollectible on this basis alone. But the one that puts a nail in the coffin is the fact that these coins are hard to find in nice attractive condition. Uncs tend to be poorly struck and all banged up and those which are worn often have the kind of scratching seen on casino coins. Attractive examples of these coins are tough in any grade. When people look at them they just see ugly for one reason or another.

Of course there are lots of Ike lovers who appreciate the design and history of the coin. And there are some very nice coins in all grades if you have the patience to look.