Newbie Needs Help 0

[DVC3579]

Hey everyone!  I have exactly 58 Eisenhower 1971 through 1974 S Dollars and I don't know what to do with them.  Do I hold for the value to increase?  Have them all graded?  Take my chances and sell on eBay?

Any advice would be much appreciated.  Would like to sell but also don't want to give them away.  Thanks for your help!

 

[Sandon]

   Welcome to the NGC chat board. Please note that an inquiry of this nature should have been posted in the "Newbie Coin Collecting Questions" forum, not the NGC Registry forum.

   I assume that the Eisenhower dollars to which you are referring are all silver clad (40% silver) "S" mint uncirculated or proof coins that were sold directly to collectors at the time of issue. The uncirculated coins were issued in soft plastic sheets housed in blue envelopes, the proofs in hard plastic cases housed in brown boxes. If you have other Eisenhower dollars, please provide a better description of your holdings. 

   These coins all had relatively high mintages for collectors' issues, and the vast majority probably still exist.  It is unlikely that they will increase much in value for the foreseeable future, barring a very substantial increase in the price of silver.  At today's silver price, these coins contain only $7.50 each in silver.

   It is extremely unlikely that any of these coins would be worth the cost of third-party grading. Based on current Coin World and NGC Price Guide prices, only uncirculated pieces that would grade MS 67 or better for the 1971-S or MS 68 or better for the 1972-S, 73-S or 74-S would have retail (dealer selling) values in excess of $100, the lowest value I think they could even arguably be worth the grading and processing fees and shipping costs. You would have to be highly experienced in grading yourself to determine whether any of your coins could possibly be worthy of such lofty grades. The proofs don't have sufficient value even in PF 69 UCAM, the highest listed grade. NGC has not graded any of these coins PF 70.

   Your decision as to what to do with these coins will depend upon your financial situation and your goals as a collector.  If you have no need for funds and have no problems storing the coins, you may as well hold onto them.  If you have better use for the money you could get for them, whether to obtain other coins or for more pressing needs, you could attempt to sell these coins to dealers at coin shows or shops or to collectors whom you may know.  Local coin clubs usually have club auctions or trading sessions. You could also try to sell them on eBay or similar platforms if you are familiar with them. They are probably worth $8 or so each to dealers in the usual grades, $10 to $14 to collectors, with a somewhat higher price (perhaps $20 or so) for any 1973-S silver proofs.  

   

Edited May 23, 2023 by Sandon

[Coinbuf]

Lots of information above, I will only add that there are a few varieties that do sell for significant premiums.   However, I do not collect Ikes, nor am I knowledgeable enough about those significant varieties to be able to advise you on them, it will be on you to do the research and determine if you have any of those varieties unless one of the other members can chime in with that info.

[Sandon]

  As @Coinbuf pointed out, there are a few varieties of silver clad Eisenhower dollars, including some minor doubled dies and the 1971-S proof "peg leg R" variety, the latter not being very valuable.  Those that are at all significant are listed on NGC VarietyPlus at Eisenhower Dollars (1971-1978) | VarietyPlus® | NGC (ngccoin.com).  If you find any of these among your coins, the NGC Price Guide does show values for some of these varieties, but only the 1971-S Proof doubled die obverse (DDO) FS-103 seems to have substantial value. PCGS Coinfacts may have additional information.  It is my impression that there is limited demand for most of these varieties. 

[VKurtB]

The Eisenhower dollar series is a conundrum. In exceptionally high grades, they are becoming very attractive. In regular states of preservation, they are nearly valueless above face value.

Please set aside all 1972 plain (not D or S) Eisenhower dollars for a close look. There are three types. The Type 2 is sought after. The best diagnostic is Cuba and other islands on that tiny Earth on the reverse. If the islands are an indistinct “shmutz”, rather than dots, you may have the desirable variety. 

Edited May 24, 2023 by VKurtB

[powermad5000]

I am in agreeance with what the others have posted. Outside of the varieties mentioned, these coins have not increased in values since they were minted. There were significant mintage numbers of each year (no low mintage years to make a specific year desirable). The series never caught on with collectors or the general public as try putting twenty Ike's in your pocket, or simply folding up one twenty dollar bill. They were big (comparatively speaking) and the clang clang and weight in your pocket was not appealing to the public. Also, most vending type machines did not take them so there was little practical use for them in circulation.

Outside of the varieties, grades need to be graded MS 69 before they have any substantial value and the census numbers of those graded that high (at least by NGC) are very low so if your coins (sans photos) are not basically pristine perfect, they would not be worth the cost of sending them to have them graded as it would likely cause you substantial loss at the time you go to sell them.

I had 4 1974 Clad Ike's that were AU in grade and I put them out on eBay to sell them. The most I got for any single one was $5, the rest selling a $4, and one at $3 (it was a little rougher than the rest). But each of these were listed individually and it took almost a year to sell all four of them even at the prices they sold at. Selling that many you might be better off selling them as rolls or as a lot of all the coins together.

[EagleRJO]

Don't have them graded!