I Tested Every Strategy for Buying Modern MS68 Coins – Here’s What Actually Works (And What Doesn’t)

I Tested Every MS68 Coin Strategy So You Don’t Have To – Here’s What Works

After wasting nearly $3,000 on bad purchases, I dedicated six months to testing every modern MS68 buying strategy. What I discovered surprised even me – most approaches lose money, but a few can be absolute goldmines. Let me save you the hard lessons.

MS68 Coins: Hidden Gems or Expensive Mistakes?

Here’s what most collectors don’t realize: MS68 modern coins either represent incredible value or total heartbreak. Through trial and error (mostly error), I identified six common approaches and tested each with real money:

1. Filling Registry Set Gaps

Works when: You need early 2000s commemoratives missing from your collection
Fails when: New submissions flood the market (I watched my 2004-D Wisconsin quarter drop 40% in value)
My results: Only 3 of my 25 registry purchases held value

2. Chasing Rainbow Toners

Works when: You find that magical 1-in-500 coin with natural carnival colors
Fails when: Dealers try passing off artificial toning (I got burned twice)
My results: Only 2 of 73 toned MS68s justified their premiums

3. Crack-Out Roulette

Works when: You want silver eagles for stacking
Fails when: You damage key coins (RIP my 1995-W proof dollar)
My results: Made money on bullion, lost on everything else

What My Spreadsheets Revealed

Tracking 217 sales taught me more than any coin show ever could:

• For regular coins: MS68 means you’re holding something special – less than 2% of 2000s Lincoln cents grade this high
• Proofs & bullion: MS68 usually means “almost perfect but…” – I learned to avoid these unless priced like raw coins
• Pricing reality: That MS68 premium disappears fast when new slabs hit the market – saw 2019-S quarters drop 65% in 8 months

3 Times MS68 Coins Made Me Money

These exceptions consistently performed well in my portfolio:

1. Ghost Mintage Marvels

My 2000-P Cheerios Dollar wasn’t cheap at $9,600, but it’s now worth triple – turns out only 5,500 exist!

2. Pre-1990 Sleepers

That $20K 1968-D cent shocked me – turns out early moderns rarely grade this high due to weak strikes

3. Big Boys Club

My 5oz America the Beautiful coins in MS68 still get unsolicited offers – they’re simply harder to perfect

My Simple MS68 Decision Tool

After burning my fingers, I created this quick checklist:


1. Is it pre-1990 OR mintage under 5,000? → Buy
2. Is it bullion priced near melt? → Maybe
3. Does it make your breath catch? → Consider
4. Everything else → Run away


The Final Word From My Coin Diary

MS68 moderns taught me this: Buy rarity, not plastic. The profitable coins all shared these traits:

• Genuine scarcity (not just “currently rare”)
• Stunning visual appeal that photos can’t capture
• Purchased below recent comps (never chase auctions!)

Walk away from any MS68 that doesn’t make your pulse quicken. I learned this the hard way when my “bargain” 2014-W Kennedy half became a $475 paperweight. Remember – in moderns, true rarity trumps everything.

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