74 S Proof Ike "micro S" Two Metal Compositions One Die

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 8,769
stewart Pillar of the Community United States 1126 Posts	Posted 04/22/2011 8:36 pm Something to look for on the mint mark of the 74-S Proofs if for what is called a "Micro "S" It was for a very long time to be thought that it was only on the 1974 S 40% Silver Proof Eisenhower's. A 1 Die Coin. Quote of Brian Vaile of the Ike Group "Now, with the help from Mr. Wexler, we have found proof that the EXACT, SAME DIE was also used to strike up a 74-S Copper-Nickel Proof as well." Making both versions even rarer. Being that both metal compositions of the coin were struck with the exact same die Below are some shots to help with Identification. Edited to add: The reason for this thread is that this variety was just thought to be on the 74-S 40% Silver proof Dr. Wiles estimated that there was a total mintage of only 10,000. With the discovery of the Mint using this same die for the Cuni-Clad Proofs My guess is the number of 40% Silver ones is significantly lower. And I remember the last time Silver got to these lofty heights in 79 and 80 being at my local coin shop on average of two to three days a week and seeing Ikes being brought in to be melted by the moving box full. And now that Silver is back up there I would hate to see any more these rather rare varieties melted for their metal content. Link to article concerning the 1974-S Micro "S" before the discovery that the same die was used for Cuni-Clad Proofs. http://ikegroup.org/TWONEWCOLLECTIBLEIKES.htm Terry First the Cuni Clad Version Second The 40% Silver Version Edited by stewart 04/22/2011 11:38 pm Report this Post to the Staff

Tunnioc Pillar of the Community United States 3173 Posts	Posted 04/23/2011 09:06 am Very interesting! Thanks for posting! I will have to check my 74S proof IKE's now! Report this Post to the Staff
stewart Pillar of the Community United States 1126 Posts	Posted 12/05/2011 9:47 pm Just wondering if anyone has had any luck finding examples of this variety? Report this Post to the Staff
chuckster 125 Pillar of the Community United States 4113 Posts	Posted 12/07/2011 08:07 am Hi Terry: I havn't found one of either version. Great post/pics! Thanks. Report this Post to the Staff
stewart Pillar of the Community United States 1126 Posts	Posted 12/07/2011 08:28 am Hi Chuck been awhile my friend. I hope all is well with you. This variety is a bear to find. when thinking about these my mind goes back to the 1979-80 time frame when I was seeing brown box Ike's come into my local coin shops by the moving box full and being sent off to be melted. Terry Report this Post to the Staff
chuckster 125 Pillar of the Community United States 4113 Posts	Posted 12/07/2011 5:40 pm Everything is going ok! Thanks. Regarding the "GREAT MELT DOWN" unfortunately, it wasn't only Ike's that were getting melted! Since my local bank cut me off from Ike's, I've been concentrating more on boxes of half dollars for roll finds and also purchases on ebay. Still search on ebay for special Ike's ( FEV'S!) etc, but the good old days of $100 bags are history- BAH,HUMBUG! (LOL!) Take care, Chuck. Edited by chuckster 125 12/07/2011 5:45 pm Report this Post to the Staff
ilikeikes Pillar of the Community United States 1205 Posts	Posted 12/09/2011 12:46 pm Dr. Wiles, quoted from his 1997 Paperback(Coneca) on IKE Varieties."The 1974-S STYLE 1 mintmark is common except on the Silver Proof Ike, where it is considered rare, with an estimated mintage of less than 10,000." You will notice the mint mark placement seems to be a tad different on your 2 obverse pics, the clad S is further left than the SP version, by a whisker, if shot at the exact same angle...the same die would have to have the S in similar locations, and, any relevant markers seen on both coins...do we have a list of any markers(die scratches?) found on the matching dies to date? Don't forget to throw in the Peg Leg version while hunting 74 Brown Box Ikes...true "Eskimo Boot" Stage A peg legs are one of, if not, the rarest peg leg in the Ike series, with an estimated price value of over 500 dollars in PF68, at least in "theory", on the Ikegroup PF pricelist. Report this Post to the Staff
stewart Pillar of the Community United States 1126 Posts	Posted 12/09/2011 2:25 pm Calvin, First of all I must apologize for not presenting this at the very beginning when starting this thread. I was under the impression that this was a foregone conclusion that this was settled at the time of Brian's discovery and with confirmation of discovery and list of die markers found by Mr. Wexler The comment and die marker list below is directly copied from conversation with Brian after I had read about his discovery and checked my safe and dug out an example of the Copper-Nickel Clad Micro "S" I had purchased in a 2x2 thinking it may have been a 40% silver version but turned out to be Copper-Nickel Clad version. Mr. Wexler came up with an "I agree with you 100%" and here are a couple of markers I found that PROVE they came from the same working die. Here are the die markers Mr. Wexler came up with to help prove my case: 1. The first and easiest to find, is a curving die scratch just to the right of center of the ear. 2. Two small die gouges (dots) that can be found just to the right of the lower horizontal bar of the F in the FG. 3. A very small die gouge at the intersection of the base of the bust and the field below the base of the bust, directly north of the mint mark. Also here is the link to the conversation with Brian and Chuck after I had posted some pictures of the Copper-Nickel Clad example I have. (I hope this is not outside forum rules) http://ikegroup.org/php3.0.2/phpBB/...a71695984981 If the link gets removed look for a thread at the Ike Group web site named: 1974 S CUNI Clad Micro S Story and Question I honestly thought that this variety had been settled with Mr. Wexler's finding of the matching die markers linking both of these coins to the same die. I was just trying to find out which one was minted first the Copper-Nickel Clad Proof or the 40% Silver Proof version. My thinking at this point is the 40% proofs were stuck at the end of the usefulness of the die and after some re-treatments the serifs on the "R" would get weaker . My 74 S 40% Micro "S" has just a whisper of the left serif remaining and yours is an Eskimo Boot.Leading me to believe the dies were re-treated again.Accounting for Dr. Wiles finding more common the Copper-Nickel Clad version than the 40% Silver Proof. But then again this is all just theory at this point until the opportunity presents itself to see and compare more examples. I think the theory is sound enough to warrant further investigation. This one reminds me of the question of which one came first The Chicken or the Egg As I believe we all know. As coin collectors we get certain coins stuck in our head. This one got buried in my head with a backhoe. Terry Edited by stewart 12/09/2011 2:30 pm Report this Post to the Staff
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74 S Proof Ike "Micro S" Two Metal Compositions One Die