My MS68 Coin Experiment: 6 Months of Buying Undervalued Modern Collectibles

I’ve Been Buying MS68 Coins For Six Months – Here’s My Truth

Let me walk you through exactly what happened when I put $5,000 into modern MS68 graded coins. Like you probably are right now, I felt completely torn when I started. Half the coin forums screamed “hidden gems!” while others warned “money pits!” So I decided to test it myself – tracking every purchase and sale for six straight months.

The MS68 Wake-Up Call

What I Got Wrong At First

I used to think MS68 meant “almost perfect but not quite” – the grading equivalent of a participation trophy. Then I bought this 2020-W American Samoa Quarter for $35. My perspective flipped when:

• The rainbow toning literally made me gasp when I opened the package (PCGS had featured it in their TrueView gallery!)
• Population reports showed only 17 existed across all services – rarer than some MS70s
• Three collectors messaged me within weeks offering $150+ – turns out registry set builders were desperate for it

The Surprising Profit Sweet Spot

Tracking every transaction revealed something counterintuitive about MS68 coins:

“They’re the only grade where collectors will fight over coins while flippers ignore them”

Here’s what my spreadsheet showed after 90 days:

Four Real Strategies That Made Money

1. Chasing Rainbow Coins

I became obsessed with toned MS68 coins after seeing their resale velocity. My hunting formula:

1. Target coins prone to toning (Silver Eagles, Proof Sets)
2. eBay search: "MS68 toned" -70 -69 -perfect
3. Check PCGS/NGC population counts
4. Verify natural toning via TrueView images

My crown jewel? A 2005-S Maine Quarter with electric blue toning. Bought for $86, sold for $425 to a type set collector who’d been searching for years.

2. Feeding Registry Set Addicts

Modern registry set competitions are fiercer than you’d think. I started stalking:

• Coins where MS68 is actually the top grade (especially 2000s issues)
• Dates/mints with fewer than 20 graded
• Gaps in top collectors’ registry sets

This netted me $650 for a 1999-D Delaware Quarter (population 3) I’d bought for $120.

3. The Crack-Out Gamble

Some MS68 slabs contain coins that deserve higher grades because of:

• Overly strict original graders
• Scratches on holders (not the coin!)
• Newly recognized varieties

My process:

1. Buy MS68 coins with stunning eye appeal
2. Crack out and submit to CACG (tougher standards)
3. Profit when they cross to MS69/70

Worked beautifully on 2021-S Proof Silver Eagles – 4 of 10 submissions upgraded.

4. Silver Stacking With a Twist

For bullion coins, I never pay more than:

Spot Price + Grading Fees × 0.9

This locks in protection via silver’s melt value. My safety net:

• 37 MS68 Silver Eagles
• 14 MS68 Maple Leafs
• 9 MS68 Kangaroos

Even if premiums vanish, I’m still at break-even.

Three Expensive Lessons Learned

Mistake #1: Skipping Population Reports

I got burned buying a 2014-P Kennedy Half Dollar for $45 before checking:

• PCGS had 428 in MS68
• NGC had 1,207 (!)

Sold it months later for $12. Now I check pop reports like my wallet depends on it – because it does.

Mistake #2: First Release FOMO

Paid $125 for a “First Release” 2023 Silver Eagle MS68. Realized later identical non-FR coins sold for $45. That $80 premium evaporated faster than acetone on a toned coin.

Mistake #3: Grading Inflation Blindness

Bought a 2003-D Wisconsin Quarter (pop 2) for $300. Six months later, the population ballooned to 47 as grading eased. Value plunged to $65.

My 6-Month MS68 Report Card

The final numbers surprised even me:

• Money In: $5,217
• Current Value: $6,892
• Profit: +32.1% (before fees)
• Star Player: 2000-P Cheerios Dollar (+490%)
• Biggest Flop: 2019-S Enhanced ASE (-42%)

Who Should Actually Buy MS68 Coins?

After six months of daily searches and auctions, here’s who benefits most:

1. Toning collectors wanting showstoppers without MS70 prices
2. Registry set warriors chasing obscure dates/mints
3. Silver stackers who want certified coins at spot
4. Variety hunters spotting undervalued errors

Stay away if you hate research or want quick flips. The golden rule? Never pay over 2x melt for bullion coins, and always – always – verify populations. MS68 isn’t a consolation prize. It’s a treasure hunt most collectors ignore.

Related Resources

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