How I Turned a $1.50 Ike into a $5 Liberty Half Eagle

Coin collecting is often seen as a hobby of history enthusiasts, but for some, it’s a way to make a good profit through smart trades. What starts as a low-value coin might end up turning into something worth much more through patience and clever deals. In this story, I’ll take you through my journey of how I turned a $1.50 Eisenhower dollar (Ike) into a $5 Liberty Half Eagle. It all began with a few careful purchases, negotiations, and trades. Here’s how I did it.

Finding the Right Ikes

In the beginning, I focused on acquiring Eisenhower dollars. These coins are a bit tricky to find, especially in uncirculated condition from 1973-1978. I made regular trips to a dealer who sold Ikes, although most of his stock had already been picked through. Over several visits, I managed to buy about $100 worth of these coins. One of my finds was a 1971 Ike, which I thought could grade well.

First Trade

After grading the 1971 Ike, it came back as an MS-64+. I tried selling it online for $120, but the offer I got was $50 cash, plus another 1971 Ike and a cleaned 1921 Morgan dollar. Though it wasn’t my asking price, I took the deal. The Morgan dollar was in poor condition, so my next goal was to trade it up for something better.

Date	Type	Grade	Cost	Comments
1971-P Ike	MS-64+	$1.50	$120	Graded MS-64+, but couldn’t sell for original asking
1921 Morgan	Cleaned	N/A	Melt	Traded in to upgrade further
Cash	$50	N/A	N/A	Part of the first trade

Second Trade

I took the cleaned Morgan dollar to a small jewelry and coin shop. The shop owner initially offered $20 for it, but after a little negotiation, I walked out with $25. While I was there, I spotted an old 1798 large cent and an 1837 Hard Times Token. I managed to buy the large cent for $5 and the token for $20, further increasing the value of my collection.

Date	Type	Grade	Cost	Comments
1798 Bust 1C	AG-3 Details	$5	Legible date but scratched
1837 HT Token	XF	$20	Liberty/ Millions for Defense, common Hard Times Token

Third Trade

Using the $50 cash from my earlier trade, I entered an auction and purchased a 1993 Russian 25 Ruble silver commemorative coin. Weighing five ounces of pure silver, it was a great deal at $55. This coin was worth far more in melt value than what I paid, allowing me to keep growing my collection.

Date	Type	Grade	Cost	Comments
1993 Russian	25 Ruble Silver Coin	PR64DCAM	$55	5 ounces of silver, bought below melt value

Fourth Trade

I sold the 1798 Bust cent and the Hard Times Token online for $3.00 in 90% silver, equivalent to about $80. I then took the silver to another dealer, who gave me $280 cash in total, and a commemorative 1986-D Statue of Liberty half dollar as a bonus.

Final Trade

My big moment came when I traded a portion of my earnings and the 1798 cent for a 1903 $5 Liberty Gold Half Eagle. This coin, graded MS-63, was a substantial step up in value from my original $1.50 Ike purchase. It marked the culmination of several smaller, thoughtful trades.

Date	Type	Grade	Cost	Comments
1903 Liberty	$5 Gold Coin	MS-63	$50 + Trade	Final valuable coin, great upgrade from the initial $1.50 Ike

Conclusion

Coin collecting can be more than just a hobby. With careful planning, smart trades, and a bit of negotiation, it’s possible to turn a small investment into something far more valuable. My journey from a $1.50 Ike to a $5 Liberty Half Eagle shows that with patience, you can increase both the monetary and historical value of your collection.

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