Here's an interesting article from CoinWorld about collecting Ikes. I have to agree that they're a very unappreciated series.

Collecting Ikes - CoinWorld

The article caused me to go and take a hard look at my Ikes. I can't believe that I'm still missing so many "common" date/mm coins.

i only have one so imagine how i feel lol

Art, you're making me want to renew my subscription... but I have no time!

In Scott Travers new book "Top 88 coins to buy and sell", he listed complete Ike collections as a 1 of 44 loser investments (his words and not mine).

He may be right from a $$ perspective but this does allow the series to be affordable and achievable to complete to newbies.

One area of Ikes that I think is under appreciated are high graded MS Ikes. This series had a tough time with good solid strikes (especially the P & D mints) where anything above MS65 are tough to come by.

Ikes are fun, they can be cheap and interesting for folks like me who built a business strike set from circulation (can beat face value!) or many varieties for the more advanced collector, proofs, silver, etc. etc.

Ikes are an under appreciated collecting area. I like them. It's just hard to find local examples that are pleasing to my eye.

I bought one a few months ago when I was starting up just for fun from ebay.co.uk - turns out to be a bicentennial....thanks for the article too, it was a very educational read!

In reality there are many that specialize in those things. Myself, I have a few Albums of them but in rather sad shape from back when they were circulated as just a coin. I met a dealer at many coin shows that specializes in those Ike Dollars. He always has lots of them that don't even make his web site. His prices are rather out of my price range. If you want to see some of his coins, check out www.jmscoins He is a really nice guy in person but he apparently deals only with really high end coins. Someone to talk to at coin shows though. Sure knows his Ikes.

eheh i have a big "0" xD lol since only 1 dealer (that i know off...an i know bout 80% of em xD) has 2 an he sells em for alot since they are "big" x< grrr!!! well thats what he tells me "they are big so they cost more" >_> lol xD tough luck i guess but they still look nice ..the 1976 bicentennial looks awesome then the normal ones are also nice lookin with the eagle

I hoarded them from circulation whenever I could find them in banks etc. I have probably over 500+ of them in various states, mostly uncs. The only date I have one of is 1973.