Eisenhower dollar
United States | |
| Value | 1.00 U.S. dollars |
|---|---|
| Mass | 22.68 g |
| Diameter | 38.1 mm |
| Thickness | 2.58 mm |
| Edge | reeded |
| Composition | Outer Layers: 75.0% Cu, 25.0% Ni Core: 100% Cu |
| Years of minting | 1971–1978 |
| Catalog number | - |
| Obverse | |
 | |
| Design | General/President Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Designer | Frank Gasparro |
| Design date | 1971 |
| Reverse | |
 | |
| Design | The Apollo 11 Mission Insignia |
| Designer | Frank Gasparro |
| Design date | 1971 |
The Eisenhower Dollar is a dollar coin issued by the United States government from 1971–1978 (not to be confused with the Eisenhower commemorative dollar of 1990). The Eisenhower Dollar followed the Peace Dollar and is named for General and President Dwight David Eisenhower, who appears on the obverse. Both the obverse and the reverse of the coin were designed by Frank Gasparro.
Specifications
- Obverse design: General/President Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Reverse design: The Apollo 11 Mission Insignia
- Bicentennial reverse designer: Denis Williams
- Bicentennial reverse design: The Liberty Bell and the Moon
- Edge: reeded
- Diameter: 38.1 mm
Composition
The Eisenhower Dollar was struck with a copper-nickel composition for circulation and was the first United States dollar coin to not be struck in a precious metal, although special collectors' issues were struck at the San Francisco Mint in a silver-copper composition.
Copper-nickel issues:
- Weight: 22.68 grams
- Composition: Outer Layers of 75% copper, 25% nickel with a center layer of 100% copper
Silver-copper issues (silver clad):
- Weight: 24.59 grams
- Composition: Outer layers of 80% silver with a center of 20.9% silver. Aggregate 60% copper, 40% silver
- Silver content: 0.3164 troy ounce (9.841 grams)
History
The Eisenhower Dollar was struck to celebrate Dwight D. Eisenhower, who died in 1969, and the Apollo 11 moon landing of the same year. It was minted for only a seven year period. The coins were often saved as mementos of Eisenhower and never saw much circulation outside of casinos. Special Bicentennial issues were minted in 1975 and 1976.
Mints
Mintmarks appear above the third and fourth numbers in the date under Eisenhower's neck. Mintmarks include:
- None (Philadelphia Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- D (Denver Mint in Denver, Colorado)
- S (San Francisco Mint in San Francisco, California)
Mintage figures
- 1971 P - 47,799,000
- 1971 D - 68,587,424
- 1972 P - 75,890,000
- 1972 D - 92,548,511
- 1973 P - 1,769,258
- 1973 D - 1,769,258
- 1974 P - 27,366,000
- 1974 D - 45,517,000
( no known dollars dated 1975)
- 1976 P - 117,337,000 (bicentennial)
- 1976 D - 103,228,274 (bicentennial)
- 1977 P - 12,596,000
- 1977 D - 32,983,006
- 1978 P - 25,702,000
- 1978 D - 33,012,890
Bicentennial Dollar
Special reverses were added to all quarter dollar, half dollar, and dollar coins minted in 1975 and 1976 to celebrate the bicentennial of America's independence. In addition, the date was shown as 1776-1976 for the quarters, half dollars, and dollars minted in 1975 and 1976. There are no 1975 dated quarters, halves, or dollars. The reverse of the Eisenhower Dollar was designed by Dennis Williams and shows the Liberty Bell in front of the moon.
Silver Issues
Some Eisenhower Dollars were minted in a 40% silver clad to be sold to collectors. All of these coins were minted at the San Francisco Mint, with dates 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1976. These coins were either uncirculated or proof. Uncirculated coins came in cellophane with a blue plastic token in a blue envelope. Proof issues came in a proof set-like plastic case, contained in a brown "wood grain finish" slipcase box with a gold seal on the back. The uncirculated coins are referred to as 'Blue Ikes' and the proofs as 'Brown Ikes'. Coins minted in 1975 and 1976 for the Bicentennial come with the quarter and the half dollar of that year. The uncirculated coins were sold by the Mint for three dollars; the proof versions for ten dollars. Two varieties of the Bicentennial dollar were produced in 1975 and can be distinguished by the thickness of the lettering on the reverse. The Type I has thicker lettering, shown in the picture above, while the Type II has more delicate lettering. The Type II version is more common.
Missing Ikes?
Eisenhower Dollars did not appear in the 1971 and 1972 mint and proof sets. The only Ikes available to collectors from the Mint with these dates were the silver clad uncirculated and proof issues. Copper-nickel clad issues had to be obtained directly from circulation.
On the other hand, 1973 copper-nickel clad Ikes were ONLY available in the uncirculated and proof sets of that year; none were released for general circulation.
All following dates of this series in copper-nickel were available both in uncirculated and proof sets from the Mint.
References
- Yeoman, R.S. A Guide Book of United States Coins Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2004
- Edler, Joel and Harper, Dave U.S. Coin Digest Iola: Krause Publications, 2004