Category Archives: Eisenhower Dollars

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Eisenhower Dollar, 1971-1978 : A Collector’s Guide

Eisenhower Dollars were struck for circulation from 1971 to 1978. Some are worth a few dollars, others are worth thousands. Image: CoinWeek.
Eisenhower Dollars were struck for circulation from 1971 to 1978. Some are worth a few dollars, others are worth thousands. Image: CoinWeek.

The American Silver Dollar Never Had Much Currency as a Circulating Coin

The American silver dollar was first authorized by the Mint Act of April 2, 1792, where the denomination was intended to be the standard unit of the American monetary system.

Similar in size and composition to Spanish and Mexican dollars, the denomination should have been the ideal unit of commerce. However, the reality was somewhat different, and though used in foreign trade, silver dollars generally did not actively circulate in the United States.

The reasons were basic: the coins were too large, too heavy, and, in time, paper money proved to be the public’s preferred means of exchange. In the late 1870s, Congress sought to reintroduce the silver dollar by ordering the United States Mint to strike millions of coins each year. Within three years, Treasury Department vaults were filled with unwanted coins.

During World War I, America came to the aid of Great Britain by converting more than 270 million silver dollars into bullion, which it sold for $1 per fine ounce. To replenish the Treasury’s silver dollar stockpile, that same quantity of silver was purchased from American mines and struck into new dollars starting in 1921. The Peace dollar was the last silver dollars minted, and regular production of the dollar coin ended after 1935.

From the nation’s immense silver dollar stockpile, $1,000 bags of the coin were paid out to banks, which then paid the dollars out to customers or held onto them as monetary reserves.

When a sealed bank vault was opened in 1962 at the Philadelphia Mint, hundreds of thousands of Morgan and Peace dollars were found, including some scarce issues. Word of this discovery circulated widely, and both banks and the Treasury Department freely paid out the coins until they were mostly gone in early 1964.

The government considered minting new coins to replenish its stockpile, but this idea was met with stiff resistance. The Coinage Act of July 23, 1965, specified that no new silver dollars could be coined for five years, at which time the need for the denomination would be reevaluated.

The Eisenhower Dollar Marked the Return of the Silver Dollar

The Coinage Act of 1965 was enacted to remove silver from United States coinage. It authorized the Mint to strike dimes and quarters in a new copper-nickel clad composition and reduced the silver content of half dollar coins to 40%. As the production of new dimes, quarters, and half dollars was underway, the Treasury implemented a plan to remove massive quantities of silver coins from its holdings. By the end of the 1960s, most of America’s pre-1964 silver coins had been withdrawn from circulation.

1971-S Eisenhower Dollar with its original blue government packaging.
1971-S Eisenhower Dollar with its original blue government packaging.

In Nevada’s casinos, the removal of silver coins caused an acute problem. Gamblers used silver dollars to play slot machines and preferred getting their payouts in the same medium.

Two events in 1969–the death in March of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the historic Apollo 11 moon landing in July–prompted a House bill that proposed a dollar coin commemorating both events. And following more than a year of debate, the new dollars were approved in December 1970.

Circulating Eisenhower, or “Ike”, dollars were to be minted in the same copper-nickel composition of the circulating dime, quarter, and half dollar. Silver-copper clad dollars for collectors, the same composition as that used for the 40% silver Kennedy half dollar produced from 1965 through 1970, were also approved.

The Story Behind the Eisenhower Dollar’s Design

The obverse of the Eisenhower dollar features a portrait of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, while the reverse presents a slightly modified version of the scene depicted on the Apollo 11 crew patch designed by astronaut and mission pilot Michael Collins, which shows an eagle landing on the moon.

A left-facing portrait of Eisenhower is centered on the obverse; U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro’s initials FG are on the truncation of the neck. The word LIBERTY arcs above the head, concentric with the flat rim, and the date is similarly placed at the bottom. The national motto IN GOD WE TRUST, in two lines, is at the bottom left. Ike dollars were minted at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco; D and S mintmarks are below the neck, above the date.

Bicentennial dollar coins have the dual date 1776-1976 at the bottom, the dates separated by a centered dot.

The reverse depicts an eagle with outstretched wings landing on the cratered moon, shown in part on the bottom third of the coin. The eagle clutches an olive branch in its claws. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA curves inside the rim at the top, over the blackness of space, while the denomination ONE DOLLAR is at the bottom along the rim, superimposed over the moon. Circling around the eagle against the space backdrop are 13 small five-point stars. Above the eagle, below the stars, is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM in two lines with centered spacing dots; a small representation of earth is in space above and to the left of the eagle, below the stars. The designer’s initials FG are between the eagle’s tail and the tip of the olive branch.

The Bicentennial version replaces the center image on the reverse with the Liberty Bell in front of the whole disc of the cratered moon. E PLURIBUS UNUM, each word on a separate line, is located at the lower right of the bell/moon composite. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR along the rim are separated by centered five-point stars. The initials DRW, for Bicentennial reverse designer Dennis R. Williams, are below the bottom edge of the bell to the right of the clapper.

Though seemingly benign, the original depiction of the eagle on the coin was apparently interpreted by the U.S. State Department as bearing a somewhat hostile expression; this was, of course, not the first time in U.S. coinage history that a design had received unexpected criticism. To correct this issue–as well as a number of small technical matters–Chief Engraver Gasparro made several minor changes to the design in 1971 and 1972. The first Eisenhower dollar coins were not issued until November 1, 1971.

A Carve-Out for a Failing College Caused Controversy

More controversial was an amendment to the authorizing legislation that directed a portion of the profits (a surcharge) from the collector coins to the private Eisenhower College in Seneca Falls, New York. In spite of receiving approximately $9 million USD from this provision, the College closed its doors in 1983, after being in operation since only 1968.

This would not be the last time that special interests would lobby Congress to provide for the funding of pet projects through the United States Mint’s numismatic coin program. The entirety of the Mint’s Modern Commemorative coin series, starting in 1982 and continuing to this day, is centered on generating revenue for various causes through the sale of non-circulating collector coins.

The Eisenhower Dollar Can Be Collected Multiple Ways

A complete uncirculated Eisenhower dollar collection can be built inexpensively with the purchase of annual mint sets, loose Mint State singles, Proof coins, and Uncirculated Finish coins and Proof issues in silver-clad.

Or, one can spend years trying to buy coins that are the best of the best coins and all of the rare varieties. With this approach, one would have to devote hundreds of thousands towards the pursuit… if the right coins even become available.

The beauty of the series is that you don’t need to settle for either or. Building a top 10 Registry Set is still somewhat affordable and there are a number of high quality coins left to find in the wild.

For those simply interested in the silver-clad coins, the blue pack and brown pack issues of 1971 to 1974 are a good entry point. For the Bicentennial issue, collectors can cheaply acquire this coin along with the Bicentennial quarter and half dollar in the Mint’s three coin silver uncirculated and Proof set.

Thousands of business strike Eisenhower dollar coins have been certified, most at grades finer than MS63, and consisting of four main types: regular copper-nickel clad, Bicentennial copper-nickel clad, regular silver-copper clad, and Bicentennial silver-copper clad.

Additional varieties have been identified within these main types. Prices are modest for most issues up to Gem, and for some dates to MS66. More expensive coins at higher grades are 1971-1974 Type 1; 1972 Type 2; and 1976 Type 1.

In addition, most MS67 and finer copper-nickel clad, and MS69 silver-copper clad, dollars are very expensive.

Thousands of Proof Eisenhower dollars have been certified, most as PR69, and most as Cameo (CAM) or Deep Cameo (UCAM or DCAM). Prices are modest for all issues through PR69, but jump to very expensive as PR70.

This toned 1973 Eisenhower Dollar is one of the finest-known and most valuable examples of the date.
This toned 1973 Eisenhower Dollar is one of the finest-known and most valuable examples of the date.

Eisenhower Dollar Varieties Are Still Being Discovered

Although the Eisenhower dollar was a short-lived series, it provided the collectors with a number of varieties, some common and some quite rare. Among the most collectible of the varieties are 1972 copper-nickel clad Type 1, 2, and 3 (low relief and high relief and other die changes); 1776-1976 (Bicentennial) copper-nickel clad, Type 1 and 2; 1971-D Type 1 and 2; 1974-D, 1976-D, and 1977-D silver-copper clad (produced in error, these coins should have been copper-nickel clad).

Rarer are the prototype versions of the 1971-S Uncirculated coin (likely to be designated as Judd patterns at some future point), the 1971-S Nixon Presentation dollar, and the 1976 No S Bicentennial Proof, of which there is only one known.


1971-S Eisenhower Dollar “Nixon Presentation Variety”. Image: CoinWeek.

In 2013, Eisenhower dollar collector Andy Oskam purchased an unusual Proof 1971-S Eisenhower dollar from an eBay seller and discovered that the coin was an unpublished variety that married a Proof obverse die with a low relief reverse die. CoinWeek editor Charles Morgan worked with PCGS to recognize the coin as the “Nixon Presentation Dollar”. Additional examples of this rare variety have since surfaced. The example imaged above sold for a record $30,550 at a February 2023 Legend Rare Coin Auctions sale.

In-Depth Eisenhower Dollar Date Analysis by CoinWeek IQ

  • 1971 – An important first-year issue known for its strike quality problems
  • 1971-D – The first Eisenhower dollar struck, made popular by an interesting variety
  • 1971-S – The silver-clad “Blue Pack” circulation strike was sold to collectors at a premium; quality was lacking
  • 1972 – Three reverse designs, led by the scarce “1972 Type 2”
  • 1972-S – The United States Mint corrects the quality issues of the year before
  • 1973 – Produced for Mint Sets–did some trickle out in bags?
  • 1974-D – A large-mintage clad issue with some nice coins.
  • 1977 – Apollo 11 reverse returns
  • 1978 – The last Philadelphia Strikes
  • 1978-D – The final Eisenhower dollar produced at the Denver Mint

Additional Eisenhower Dollar Market Information for the Advanced Collector

 

Coin dealer James Sego joins Charles Morgan to discuss the high-end Eisenhower dollar market.

 

1971-S Brown Pack

Coin Specifications

Eisenhower Dollar
Years Of Issue:  1971-1978
Mintage (Circulation):  High – 113,318,000 (1976, Type 2); Low – 1,883,140 (1973-S Silver-Clad)
Mintage (Proof):  High – 4,265,234 (1971-S); Low – 1,013,646 (1973-S Silver-Copper Clad)
Alloy: Copper-nickel: outer layers 75% copper, 25% nickel; inner core is pure copper. Silver-copper: outer layers 80% silver, 20% copper; inner core 20.9% silver, 79.1% copper
Weight: Copper-nickel clad, 22.68 grams; silver-copper clad, 24.59 grams
Diameter:  ±38.10 mm
Edge:  Reeded
OBV Designer  Frank Gasparro
REV Designer  Frank Gasparro | Michael Collins; Frank Gasparro | Dennis R. Williams (Bicentennial)

 

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Additional Resources

Bowers, Q. David. The Experts Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins. Whitman Publishing.

–. A Guide Book of United States Type Coins. Whitman Publishing.

–. A Guide Book of Modern United States Dollar Coins. Whitman Publishing.

Breen, Walter. Walter Breen’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins. Doubleday.

Ezerman, Rob. Collectible Ike Varieties: Facts, Photos, and Theories. Ike Group.

Guth, Ron and Jeff Garrett. United States Coinage: A Study by Type. Whitman Publishing.

Yeoman, R.S and Kenneth Bressett (editor). The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins. Whitman Publishing.

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1972-S Eisenhower Dollar Uncirculated : A Collector’s Guide

The 1972-S Eisenhower Dollar graded by MS68* by NGC sold for $1,800 at a April 2021 Stack's Bowers auction.
The 1972-S Eisenhower Dollar graded by MS68* by NGC sold for $1,800 at a April 2021 Stack’s Bowers auction.

Changes were made to the 1972 Eisenhower Dollar in a Make or Break Year

A year after the initial buzz… and then thud… of the release of a new dollar coin, the United States Mint continued its work to refine and improve Frank Gasparro’s design. A number of subtle changes were undertaken by the Mint’s engraving department, including a mid-year change in the quality of die steel used to strike the hard copper-nickel clad circulating coins.

That there was little demand for the large-format dollar did not dissuade the government from striking almost 170 million coins at the Denver and Philadelphia Mints. At Denver, coin production more-or-less went smoothly, while at Philadelphia, minor tweaks (and possibly die mixups) led to the creation of three major varieties, known by Ike collectors as 1972 Type I, Type II, and Type III dollars.

A second variant of the Eisenhower dollar was produced not for circulation but for collectors and was struck in a 40% silver-clad composition. Before 1965, all United States dimes, quarters, and half dollars were struck in a .900 fine silver composition. Dollar coins, not produced since 1935, would have also followed suit had production been ongoing. This changed with the passage of the Coinage Act of 1965, which removed silver entirely from dimes and quarters and reduced its fineness in the half dollar to 40%. The Act did one other thing as well. It prohibited the production of dollar coins until 1970, at which time Congress would reevaluate the need for such a coin.

The Silver-Clad Eisenhower Dollars Were Issued as a Compromise

The death of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower on March 28, 1969, gave dollar coin advocates a reason to support the release of a new coin, but a question remained regarding the continued use of the 40% silver composition. The Mint, for its part, was satisfied with removing silver entirely and assisted the Treasury in separating pre-64 silver issues from Federal holdings and melting down the obsolete coins. By the end of 1969, a majority of the silver dimes, quarters, and half dollars in circulation had been withdrawn by speculators, collectors, and the government.

A large faction in Congress supporting the production of a new dollar coin pushed for the Cu-Ni clad composition, but there were others, like Representative H.R. Gross of Iowa, who found the idea of a “scrap metal” dollar coin to be an insult to the memory of the former president. Gross’ opinions were shared by many in the Senate but stood in opposition to the prevailing sentiment of the House, which had coalesced around the cause of seeing to the complete removal of silver from American circulating coinage.

The compromise spelled out in the bill, signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon just before midnight on December 31, 1970, approved the striking of up to 150 million silver-clad dollars, drawing from Treasury stockpiles of silver for the coin’s production. These silver-clad coins would form the basis of the collector issues struck in Proof and Uncirculated formats at the San Francisco Assay Office.

The 1972-S Eisenhower Dollar Uncirculated Issue Corrected the Quality Control Issues of the Year Before

The 1971-S Uncirculated issue, as an earlier CoinWeek profile points out, was a quality-control disaster. And given the high price above face value that the Mint was charging for the coin, both the collecting community and the general public were not happy. The Mint explained these flaws by stating that the coins were produced in the same way as a regular coin would be struck for circulation, but that wasn’t entirely true. Many of the 1971-S coins looked milky, with improperly prepared planchets. Author Rob Ezerman also points out that many suffered post-strike damage due to the careless way in which the coins were shipped from San Francisco to Denver for packaging.

Whatever happened in 1971 to cause that issue to stand out among the poorest-quality Post-War issues the Mint had produced had been addressed by the time the 1972-S Uncirculated dollars went into production. As it stands, the 1972-S Eisenhower dollar (“Blue Pack“) Uncirculated coin is the 1881-S Morgan of the series – which is to say that, by a very great degree, the quality of this issue is unparalleled. It is significantly better than the 1971-S, marginally better than the 1974-S, and clearly better than the 1973-S.

How much is the 1972-S Eisenhower Dollar Uncirculated Coin Worth?

The 1972-S Eisenhower Dollar Uncirculated coin sells for a range of prices from $14 to $3,500. There are a great number of claims online that this date is worth up to $10,000, but that simply isn’t true.

To understand why a coin that is readily available on sites like eBay for $14-$20 could sell for thousands of dollars, you have to understand the market for certified coins. A certified coin is a coin that has been authenticated, graded, and encapsulated by an industry-accepted third party grading service. The coin hobby in the United States recognizes three major companies: CAC, NGC, and PCGS. CAC is a newcomer to the encapsulation business, but their CAC-approved green oval stickers have created a major market for premium quality coins over the course of the past 15 years. NGC and PCGS have graded far more coins, however, and most of the certified 1972-S Eisenhower dollars that appear on the market has been graded by one of these two services.

From a quality standpoint, the 1972-S Eisenhower dollar uncirculated coin is a much higher quality release than the 1971-S. Certified populations at PCGS and NGC bear out the story of how the 1972-S is a far superior-quality coin. With nearly 25,000 submissions, the typical 1972-S certified by PCGS grades either MS-66 or MS-67, with 3,215 earning MS-68. Today, the PCGS MS-69 certified population stands at 34 pieces, an 19-coin increase from where this top-pop grade sat a little over a decade ago.

At NGC, certified populations follow a similar trajectory, although NGC pops are significantly lower due to lower submission volume. The overwhelming majority of all coins submitted to NGC (5,418) grade either MS-66 or MS-67. 645 earn NGC’s MS-68 grade, while just 15 have been put into MS-69 holders.

CAC has to date graded but three 1972-S Eisenhower Dollar uncirculated coins at their new Virginia Beach grading center, but have applied the CAC approval sticker on 191 coins at the MS68 level. These coins traditionally sell for a premium over coins without the sticker in the same grade.

The highest price paid for a 1972-S Eisenhower dollar at auction is $3,680 USD, paid for a superior quality example offered at an April 2011 Heritage sale. A few have sold for slightly higher figures in private sales carried out between 2014 and 2016. With the rising population, the price for a top pop 1972-S Eisenhower dollar has softened somewhat, but we feel that the coin is stable at $2,600.

At more affordable price points, collectors have a decision to make.

In grades MS-67 and below, a certified Eisenhower dollar is simply a typical Blue Pack example housed in a trackable certified holder. Given the unstable nature of the original government packaging, there is a clear benefit to paying a small premium for a specimen in an inert holder. But given the fact that the packaging is the only thing that separates a certified coin from a typical example at this grade, the upside long-term is limited. We advise this grade only for collectors with serious budgetary constraints, or for those simply looking to build a typeset on a budget. For Eisenhower dollar Set Registry collectors, a better alternative is MS-68 or MS-68+. MS-68 examples routinely sell for about $100. Don’t be afraid to pay a slight premium for one that is particularly nice – especially one with CAC approval.

Prices for MS-68+ examples have come down as the population in this grade has approached the total of all coins graded MS-69. Here, you can have a coin that is for all intents and purposes on par with MS69 examples but for a deep discount. $500 seems to be the going rate, but a serious specialist would pay $1,000 – $1,500 for a superior example that would likely (one day) upgrade to MS-69.

Design

Obverse

Gasparro’s portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower (as President); Eisenhower facing to the left. Gasparro’s initials FG appear raised in the bust truncation. Beneath Eisenhower’s chin, to the left, is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. LIBERTY wraps around the top of the coin in the space between the rim and the top of Eisenhower’s head. The date wraps around the bottom of the design, between the rim and the bottom of Eisenhower’s bust truncation. While Philadelphia-struck pieces bear no mintmark, coins struck at Denver and San Francisco will bear small mintmarks of “D” or “S” above the space between the last two digits of the date and below Eisenhower’s neck. On Eisenhower dollars, mintmarks were hand-punched and may vary in exact location and orientation.

Reverse

The reverse is based on astronaut Michael Collins’ Apollo 11 Mission Patch design.

In the center, a bald eagle in descent. In its talons, an olive branch. Its left-wing is raised. The lunar surface lies below. Above the eagle’s head is a depiction of the Earth. North America is prominently visible. Wrapping around the top of the coin adjacent to the rim is the legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Thirteen small five-point stars circle around the eagle. Below the ring of stars but above the eagle is the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM”. Wrapping around the bottom of the design is the denomination “ONE DOLLAR”.

Edge

The edge of the 1972-S Eisenhower dollar is reeded.

Designer

Frank Gasparro was a friend to numismatists and served as Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1965 to 1981 (View Designer’s Profile).

Coin Specifications

Country:  United States
Year Of Issue:  1972
Denomination:  One Dollar (USD)
Mint Mark:  S (San Francisco)
Mintage:  2,1933,056 (incl. 22,000 struck in 1973)
Alloy: Outer layer: .800 silver and .200 copper; Inner layer: .791 copper and .209 silver; ASW: .3161 oz.
Weight:  24.59 g
Diameter:  38.1 mm
Edge:  Reeded
OBV Designer  Frank Gasparro
REV Designer  Frank Gasparro | Michael Collins
Quality:  Uncirculated

 


 

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1978-D Eisenhower Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

 

1978-D Eisenhower Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.
1978-D Eisenhower Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.

The End of the Era of the Large Dollar Coin

The era of the big dollar coin was already coming to a close when the United States Mint struck the last 59,000,000 Eisenhower dollar coins for circulation at the Denver and Philadelphia Mints. Denver had the honor of striking slightly more, and as had been the case through the entire series, struck them better than the coin operators at the mother mint.

The copper-nickel clad large dollar came into existence in 1971 as a memorial to the recently passed and beloved war-hero-turned President Dwight D. Eisenhower. As Americans faced the daily horrors that played out on the nightly news reporting from Vietnam, the sentiment to honor one of America’s last great war heroes overrode all other concerns and another dollar coin was born.

Throughout the series’ eight-year run, production of the coin swung from as high as 113 million to as low as 1.76 million. The high came during the American Bicentennial year of 1976 at the Philadelphia Mint. The low came from the 1973 emission, where coins were struck for the annual Mint Set (although at least one bag of 1973 coins has been reported as having been released into the wild).

The 1978-D’s mintage of 33,102,890 coins puts the issue as the fourth-highest Denver mintage of the series. It is by all accounts a typical issue from this late-modern-era U.S. coin series.

1978-D Eisenhower Dollar Obverse
The small D mintmark above the date signifies that this coin was struck at the Denver Mint.

The 1978-D Eisenhower Dollar

The year 1978 saw the Eisenhower dollar, short-lived though it was, come to a close. On October 10, President Jimmy Carter signed into law legislation authorizing the production of a new smaller dollar coin measuring 26.5mm and weighing 8.1 grams made of the same Cu-Ni clad composition that had been put into use for dimes and quarters since 1965 and was used for the larger circulating Eisenhower dollar coins. Production of the new smaller dollar coin began on December 13, 1978.

Before this transition to a new smaller dollar coin got underway, however, the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints struck the Eisenhower dollar for one final year. The Philadelphia and Denver Mints struck Cu-Ni clad versions for circulation, while the San Francisco branch struck Cu-Ni clad Proofs. The Denver Mint’s output of 33,012,890 pieces was the highest mintage for the year and represents an end of an era for the Denver Mint’s production of the circulating large-format dollar coin.

How Much are 1978-D Eisenhower Dollars Worth?

The Eisenhower dollar is popularly collected two ways: as a raw coin and as a certified coin with an assigned grade from a major grading service such as PCGS or NGC. Raw coins come from circulation or from the Mint’s annual Uncirculated coin set. Given the ready availability of Uncirculated examples, coins that have shown wear from use or exhibit any atypical flaws or distracting features are not considered desirable and can be safely spent at face value.

Uncirculated examples, either from bags, rolls, or Mint Sets, carry a premium of about four to 10 times face value based on the typical price of completed transactions on eBay. A numismatist that is extremely knowledgeable about the market with professional-level grading skills may pay more for a premium raw coin because they intend to have the coin certified. Even a great coin with the potential to earn a high grade will sell for a discount if sold raw, except in extraordinary circumstances.

In Mint State 65, the 1978-D carries a price of about $18 according to CoinWeek IQ’s current market analytics. This low price does not reflect the difficulty in cherrypicking Gem-quality Eisenhower dollars of this issue in the wild. Mint Set coins tend to have the best strikes, but this is a trend and not a rule. A large quantity of 1978-D dollars were found among the 223,000 coin Eisenhower dollar hoard marketed by Littleton Coin Company in 2011 and dubbed “The Big Sky Hoard” because it was discovered in a Montana bank vault.

In MS66, the 1978-D sells for about $100, but can, from time to time, sell on eBay for $65-$75 if the seller does not employ professional listing or photography practices. Curiously, a batch of four CAC-approved 1978-D Eisenhower dollars sold in October 2020 at Heritage for $200-$400 each. We do not believe that the date is worth $200-$400, even with CAC approval.

Denver Mint coins were struck better than those struck at Philadelphia and finding Gem-quality 1978-D Ike dollars with nice eye appeal is not so difficult as to assert such a premium… at least not at MS66. Advancing to MS67 is another story. In MS67, PCGS boasts a certified population of just four examples, the last one selling in 2017 for $7,050. That example was not the finest of the then four known, based on our observation of coins in the finest Eisenhower dollar registry sets. Today, PCGS reports nine examples at this grade and in January 2022, a sale of a lightly toned example graded MS67 was reported on eBay at a record price of $8,750.

CAC has so far graded 58 coins, none finer than MS66, but it has stickered four coins at the MS67 level. NGC reports 21 coins at MS67.

Design

Obverse:

Frank Gasparro’s portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower (as President); Eisenhower facing to the left. Gasparro’s initials “FG” appear raised in the bust truncation. Beneath Eisenhower’s chin, to the left, is the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” LIBERTY wraps around the top of the coin in the space between the rim and the top of Eisenhower’s head. The date wraps around the bottom of the design, between the rim and the bottom of Eisenhower’s bust truncation. While Philadelphia-struck pieces bear no mintmark, coins struck at Denver and San Francisco will bear small mintmarks of “D” or “S” above the space between the last two digits of the date. On Eisenhower dollars, mintmarks were hand-punched and may vary in exact location and orientation.

Reverse:

1978-D Eisenhower Dollar ReverseThe reverse is based on Michael Collins’ Apollo 11 Mission Patch design.

In the center, a bald eagle in descent. In its talons, an olive branch. Its left wing is raised. The lunar surface lies below. Above the eagle’s head is a depiction of the Earth. North America is prominently visible. Wrapping around the top of the coin adjacent to the rim is the legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Thirteen small five-point stars circle around the eagle. Below the ring of stars but above the eagle is the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM”. Wrapping around the bottom of the design is the denomination “ONE DOLLAR”.

Edge:

The edge of the 1978-D Eisenhower dollar is reeded.

Designer

Frank Gasparro was a friend to numismatists and served as Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1965 to 1981 (View Designer’s Profile).

Coin Specifications

Country:  United States
Year Of Issue:  1978
Denomination:  One Dollar (USD)
Mint Mark:  None (Philadelphia)
Mintage:  25,702,000
Alloy:  Copper-Nickel (Cu-Ni)
Weight:  22.68 g
Diameter:  38.1 mm
OBV Designer  Frank Gasparro
REV Designer  Frank Gasparro | Michael Collins
Quality:  Uncirculated

 


 

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Patriotic U.S. Coins and Banknotes

By Al Doyle for CoinWeek …..
 

Here’s a short but focused area of numismatics: patriotic U.S. coins and notes with a strong message of freedom and independence. These pieces go well beyond the ubiquitous portraits of an allegorical Miss Liberty, and they can be found at every price point on the spectrum.

U.S. Banknotes

A pair of large-sized $5 notes drive home the message of religious liberty with compelling artistry. Check the back of the 1902 and 1908 $5 National Bank Notes to see a fine example of old-school engraving. A scene of the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock is an eye grabber. President Benjamin Harrison and the issuing bank can be found on the other side.

The Pilgrims wanted to worship in a manner that was banned by England’s state church, and their quest for religious freedom included many severe hardships. Something in the $150 to $175 range should be sufficient to acquire a common example (as in bank and state) in Very Fine, and the cost is around $300 in Extra Fine. The same vignette shares the back with Christopher Columbus landing in the western hemisphere on the Series 1914, 1915 and 1918 $5 Federal Reserve note. It will cost around $100 for a VF type note.

5_engrave

What if you need to take the low-budget path to collecting symbols of freedom? Go to the bank and get some $2 bills at face value. All deuces since 1976 (this includes Series 1995, 2003, and 2009) carry the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the back. Get some extra $2s and spend them if you want to see startled looks and hear the comments from surprised cashiers.

Patriotic U.S. Commemorative Coins

A trio of older commemorative coins focus on independence. The 1925 Lexington-Concord half dollar is known for its depiction of the famed statue of the musket-armed citizen answering the urgent call to duty. This is a very affordable item in grades as high as MS-64, as 162,013 pieces were sold. The small wooden cases that housed Lexington halves were usually discarded and nowadays are prized by collectors.

Sesquicentennial half dollars and $2.50 gold pieces were issued in 1926. The 50-cent piece (mintage 141,120) is affordable in grades up to MS-63, but the typically weak strike means higher-grade specimens are anything but cheap. Plan on spending $300 in MS-64 and $2,000 or more for the relatively small population of MS-65 “Sesquis”. The quarter eagle was the last of the 11 old gold commemoratives, and the original mintage was 46,019, Don’t expect to add this attractive design to your collection for less than $450 even in lower grades.

Modern U.S. Coins

Move ahead 50 years for the clad and .400 fine silver quaters, half dollars, and Eisenhower dollars struck to honor America’s bicentennial. The drummer boy reverse on the 1776-1976 quarter is the one artistically inspired theme on the series, which is both common and cheap in BU and proof versions.

constitution_5The 1987 Constitution silver $1 and gold $5 rank among the biggest sellers of the modern U.S. commemorative coin era. More than 3.07 million silver pieces and 873,884 gold half eagles were purchased. The issue honors the bicentennial of the United States Constitution, and either coin can be had for bullion-related prices.

It took the creation of the Bill of Rights before a number of delegates were willing to vote for the Constitution, and a 1993 half dollar and silver dollar honors this vital affirmation of individual liberty. James Madison is depicted on both commems. The 50-cent piece is the only modern commemorative half dollar besides the 1982 George Washington commemorative to be struck on a silver planchet.

In addition to reflecting on America’s history, the patriotic U.S. coin collector can acquire items that provide a constant reminder of what it means to live in this nation.

* * *

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1973 Eisenhower Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

United States 1973 Eisenhower Dollar

The 1973 Eisenhower Dollar was a Non-Circulating Legal Tender Coin

Production totals of Eisenhower dollars for the first two years of the series were enormous: a combined 116.38 million circulation strike coins in 1971 and a combined 168.44 million circulation strikes in 1972. While there was a good deal of collector enthusiasm for the Ike dollar, there was no practical need to circulate the large clad dollar coin. By 1973, it was apparent that the Eisenhower dollar would not fare any better than the Morgan and Peace dollars that preceded it.

For the 1973 issue, the Mint decided to forego striking additional dollar coins for circulation and instead produced two million from each mint for the purpose of inclusion in the annual Mint Set.

The United States Mint reported a total production run of two million 1973 Mint Sets. Ultimately, 1,769,258 sets were sold and the remaining 230,742 1973 (P) and D-mintmark Eisenhower dollars were destroyed. This has long been the published accounting for what happened to the remainder. However, an unconfirmed sighting of an open mint bag of 1973 Eisenhower dollars at a Florida coin shop was reported several years ago by Ike Group member Brian Vaile several years ago. If true, that would mean at least some small portion of the unpackaged mintage was released into circulation. Given that the issue is rarely encountered in circulated grades, CoinWeek assumes that any such emission would have been in very small numbers and quite probably, accidental.

Without the benefit of this explanation, it is easy to look at the mintages for each issue in the series and consider the 1973 and the 1973-D as “key dates”. They are not. Much scarcer in Mint State are the Philadelphia issues of 1971 and 1972, with the 1972 Type 2 reverse being the scarcest of all business strike coins in the series.

1973 Eisenhower dollars differ from 1971 and most 1972 circulation strike dollars in that they were struck from dies using hardened 52100 die steel, as opposed to the W-1 die steel used at the beginning of the coin’s production term. As a result, coins struck with the harder dies were more sharply struck, especially in early and middle die states. The die sinking issue that was also common on the left side of the obverse was also greatly reduced.

The limited production run and method of distribution of 1973 Eisenhower dollars has yielded few significant die varieties or mint errors. Collectors of so-called “Peg Leg” varieties may want to keep an eye on “OK” Peg Legs for the date. OK stands for “Off at the Knees”. The R on LIBERTY on this Peg Leg is so polished that half of the base of the R is absent.

 

What is the 1973 Eisenhower Dollar Worth?

The 1973 Eisenhower dollar carries a face value of one dollar, but the coin was never intended to circulate as such. While the 1971-S and 1972-S silver-clad coins were sold at high premiums to collectors, the Cu-Ni clad Eisenhower dollars were intended to be used in commerce as one dollar coins. The 1973 issue was different. It was the first Cu-Ni clad Eisenhower dollar released only in collector sets.

1973 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set.
1973 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set.

Interestingly, the 1973 Eisenhower dollar was also the first dollar coin to be issued in the Mint’s annual Uncirculated Coin Set. With the inclusion of two dollars face value of new coins, the price for the sets increased from $3.50 in 1972 to $6.00 in 1973. Today, a 1973 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set sells for about $18. Individually, ungraded 1973 Eisenhower dollars sell for about $8 a piece.

In Mint State 65, the 1973 Eisenhower dollar carries a retail price of about $25 according to CoinWeek IQ’s current market analytics. This low price does not reflect the difficulty in cherrypicking Gem-quality Eisenhower dollars of this issue in the wild. The quality of coins in mint sets varies dramatically and Choice Uncirculated examples (MS63) are not uncommon. In MS66, the 1973 Eisenhower Dollar sells in three strata. For non-CAC certified examples, MS66 coins sell for a range of $400-$450 at auction. This is a higher price level than we reported two years ago. High-quality specimens in MS66 with CAC approval can bring prices in excess of $600. Superlative examples with CAC approval and PQ toning will bring prices of $1,000 or more, and are highly coveted.

Up until the mid-2010s, MS66 was the top pop grade for Eisenhower dollars. Since 2016, a slow-but-steady trickle of coins have been certified by PCGS at MS66+. The record price paid for one at public auction was $7,637.50 from the Sonoran Monsoon Collection, which was built by former Navajo President Joe Shirley, Jr. Shirley built an impressive collection of U.S. dollar coins, but the quality of his top pop Ike dollars was surpassed by coins assembled by at least three rival collectors: Wang, Weaver, and Oskam.

The finest example that exists, according to our census, is the Sego-Weaver specimen, a CAC-approved MS66+ coin with plus eye appeal and fantastic toning. That coin was sold as part of a collection in 2017 in a Private Treaty sale.

Design


Obverse:1973 Eisenhower Dollar Reverse

Gasparro’s portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower (as President); Eisenhower facing to the left. Designer Frank Gasparro’s initials “FG” appear raised in the bust truncation. Beneath Eisenhower’s chin, to the left, is the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” LIBERTY wraps around the top of the coin in the space between the rim and the top of Eisenhower’s head. The date wraps around the bottom of the design, between the rim and the bottom of Eisenhower’s bust truncation. While Philadelphia-struck pieces bear no mintmark, coins struck at Denver and San Francisco will bear small mintmarks of “D” or “S” above the space between the last two digits of the date. On Eisenhower dollars, mintmarks were hand-punched and may vary in exact location and orientation.

Reverse:

The reverse is based on Michael Collins’ Apollo 11 Mission Patch design.

In the center, a bald eagle in descent. In its talons, an olive branch. Its left-wing is raised. The lunar surface lies below. Above the eagle’s head is a depiction of the Earth. North America is prominently visible. Wrapping around the top of the coin adjacent to the rim is the legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”. Thirteen small five-point stars circle around the eagle. Below the ring of stars but above the eagle is the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM”. Wrapping around the bottom of the design is the denomination “ONE DOLLAR”.

Edge:

The edge of the 1973 Eisenhower dollar is reeded.

Designer

Frank Gasparro was a friend to numismatists and served as Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1965 to 1981 (View Designer’s Profile).

Coin Specifications

Country:  United States
Year Of Issue:  1973
Denomination:  One Dollar
Mint Mark:  None (Philadelphia)
Mintage:  2,000,000
Alloy:  Copper-Nickel (Cu-Ni)
Weight:  22.68 g
Diameter:  38.1 mm
OBV Designer  Frank Gasparro
REV Designer  Frank Gasparro | Michael Collins
Quality:  Uncirculated

 


 

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1971 Eisenhower Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

1971 Eisenhower Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.
1971 Eisenhower Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.

Why was the 1971 Eisenhower Dollar Made?

Even though the United States had no real need for a large dollar coin at the start of the 1970s, the gaming industry developed an acute need to find a replacement for the silver dollars it used to feed tens of thousands of slot machines. This “need”, and the recent passing of beloved war-hero-turned-President Dwight D. Eisenhower, presented Congress with an opportunity to cater to the needs of the industry. While United States Mint Director Mary Brooks lobbied for the coin to be struck in silver, Congress instead chose to strike the coin for circulation in the same copper-nickel (Cu-Ni) clad composition in use for the dime and quarter dollar. In a compromise, silver-clad versions were authorized to be struck and sold to collectors.

Signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon (formerly Eisenhower’s Vice President) on December 31, 1970, the Bank Holding Company Act Amendments of 1970 authorized the production of the coin.

(Incidentally, the amendments also authorized the General Services Administration (GSA) to sell 2.8 million Carson City Morgan dollars from the vaults of the United States Treasury.)

First-year production totals were large (47,799,000 for the 1971 Eisenhower Dollars struck at the Philadelphia Mint and 68,587,424 for the Denver-Mint-produced 1971-D Eisenhower Dollars) but paled when compared to the mintage of the 1971 Kennedy half dollar, which was struck in Cu-Ni clad for the first time this same year. While hundreds of millions of Eisenhower dollars were struck, with many millions entering circulation, the coin was more of a novelty item than a useful coin for the purposes of commerce.

How much is the 1971 Eisenhower Dollar Worth?

This superb gem 1971 Eisenhower dollar sold for $10,200 at an April 2022 Stack's Bowers auction.
This superb gem 1971 Eisenhower dollar sold for $10,200 at an April 2022 Stack’s Bowers auction.

The 1971 Eisenhower dollar is worth a wide range of prices, from $1 for a beat-up circulated example, to potentially $10,000 or more dollars for virtually flawless examples in the Superb Gem grade of MS67. Finer examples have yet to be certified.

Why would a modern coin have such a range of values? The answer lies in the coin’s production history.

Creating a Cu-Ni Eisenhower dollar–a large silver-dollar format coin–proved to be quite a technical challenge. The Denver Mint, which began production of the coin a few weeks before Philadelphia, fared better. Coins struck at Denver have a sharper, cleaner look. Some even appear to have been struck on highly polished planchets. Most Philadelphia issues appear dull, lacking in luster, and have residual annealing chatter marks on the high points of the relief (typically on Eisenhower’s chin and hair).

As the business strike Eisenhower dollar was not issued in U.S. Mint annual sets until 1973, examples that survive in Mint State were originally saved from circulation. Because of this, uncirculated examples of the 1971 (P) issue are worth slightly more than issues struck in 1974 forward. The 1973 is a Mint Set-only issue and carries a slight premium, but truthfully, the 1971 (P) and 1972 (P) issues are more difficult to source in Mint State and should be worth more because of that.

In Mint State 65, the 1971 (P) carries a price of about $80 according to CoinWeek IQ’s current market analytics. This is significantly down from the pricing levels the coin has traded at in recent years. Rising TPG populations and a malaise in the modern coin market bears some responsibility. True gems with great eye appeal can sell for many times more. Our MS66 market price for the issue, as of November 2023, is about $600. CAC coins with very high eye appeal can bring premiums over this number.

Eisenhower Dollar Design


Obverse:

Gasparro’s portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower (as President); Eisenhower facing to the left. Gasparro’s initials “FG” appear raised in the bust truncation. Beneath Eisenhower’s chin, to the left, is the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” LIBERTY wraps around the top of the coin in the space between the rim and the top of Eisenhower’s head. The date wraps around the bottom of the design, between the rim and the bottom of Eisenhower’s bust truncation. While Philadelphia-struck pieces bear no mintmark, coins struck at Denver and San Francisco will bear small mintmarks of “D” or “S” above the space between the last two digits of the date. On Eisenhower dollars, mintmarks were hand-punched and may very in exact location and orientation.

Reverse:

The reverse is based on Michael Collins’ Apollo 11 Mission Patch design.

In the center, a bald eagle is in descent. In its talons, an olive branch. Its left wing is raised. The lunar surface lies below. Above the eagle’s head is a depiction of the Earth. North America is prominently visible. Wrapping around the top of the coin adjacent to the rim is the legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Thirteen small five-point stars circle around the eagle. Below the ring of stars but above the eagle is the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM”. Wrapping around the bottom of the design is the denomination “ONE DOLLAR”.

Edge:

The edge of the 1971 Philadephia Eisenhower dollar is reeded.

Designer

Frank Gasparro was a friend to numismatists and served as Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1965 to 1981 (View Designer’s Profile).

Coin Specifications

Country:  United States
Year Of Issue:  1971
Denomination:  One Dollar
Mint Mark:  None (Philadelphia)
Mintage:  47,799,000
Alloy:  Copper-Nickel (Cu-Ni)
Weight:  22.68 g
Diameter:  38.1 mm
OBV Designer  Frank Gasparro
REV Designer  Frank Gasparro | Michael Collins
Quality:  Uncirculated

 


 

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1971-D Eisenhower Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

1971-D Eisenhower Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.
1971-D Eisenhower Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.

While large silver dollar coins saw little practical circulation in America’s more populated regions, the coins did see use in the American West, where the durability of metal over paper gave coins a clear advantage.  Nowhere did American silver dollars flow more freely than at the gambling cities of Reno and Las Vegas, where silver dollars were the currency of choice for casino slot machines.

However, as demand for these silver dollars increased, the supply began to dwindle. Treasury stockpiles of the coins dwindled in the 1960s, which left the gaming industry with a bit of a dilemma. With the March 1969 death of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Congressional openness to reintroducing a circulating dollar coin to honor the former president took root.

Mint Director Mary Brooks initially lobbied for the coin to be struck in silver, continuing with tradition. However, Congress had no interest in continuing to produce circulating coins in silver. The Coinage Act of 1965 called for the removal of silver from America’s dimes and quarters and reduced the silver content of half dollars from .900 fine to a 40% silver-clad composition. In the five years since the composition change, silver coins all but disappeared from circulation and the silver-clad Kennedy half dollars saw very limited use.

Signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon on December 31, 1970, the Bank Holding Company Act Amendments of 1970 authorized the production of the Cu-Ni clad Eisenhower dollar for circulation. The Act also allowed for the production of numismatic versions struck from a 40% silver composition to be sold at a significant premium over face value to collectors. These coins would be produced at the San Francisco Mint and sold directly by the United States Mint. The Act also carried an important provision that authorized the General Services Administration (GSA) to sell 2.8 million Carson City Morgan dollars from the vaults of the United States Treasury.)

 

1971-D Eisenhower Dollars Were Struck First

The Denver Mint was the first mint to strike Eisenhower dollars in 1971, beating the Philadelphia Mint by a few weeks. In total, the Denver Mint produced 68,587,424 1971-D Eisenhower dollars, while the Philadelphia Mint struck 47,799,000 coins. These were significant numbers compared to the mintages of the later mintages of America’s Morgan and Peace silver dollars.

Creating a Cu-Ni Eisenhower dollar–a large, silver-dollar format coin–proved to be quite a technical challenge. Despite the fact that the Denver Mint’s presses were older than the presses at the newly finished Philadelphia facility, the Denver Mint typically produced better dollar coins.

Coins struck at Denver typically have a sharper, cleaner look. Many are fully lustrous, and some were struck on highly polished planchets. By contrast, most Philadelphia issues appear dull, lacking in luster, and have residual annealing chatter marks on the high points of the relief (typically on Eisenhower’s chin and hair).

Despite this overall cleaner look, the 1971-D Eisenhower dollar does have a tendency to show significant amounts of die sink along the bottom periphery. On the coin illustrated above, you can see evidence of this along the bottom of the design through the date and flattening the first few letters of the motto: IN GOD WE TRUST.

How Much are 1971-D Eisenhower Dollars Worth?

For coins struck after World War II, Mint Sets have serves as the primary source for high quality uncirculated coins for any given date. The tradition of producing mint sets dates back to the late 1940s, when they first debuted. Initially, these sets included two examples of each coin – one mounted face up and one face down in cardboard holders. This allowed collectors to admire both sides of the coin without removing them from the packaging.

In 1959, the Mint replaced the cardboard-mounted double mint set with a single coin mint set that housed one coin of each denomination from each mint in a cellophane holder. Curiously, the Mint did not redesign this packaging to include Eisenhower dollars until 1973. The implications of this is that the 2,193,396 uncirculated sets sold of the Mint’s 1971 coins do not include uncirculated examples of the Eisenhower dollar, which means that there are far fewer uncirculated 1971 and 1971-D Eisenhower dollars in the market than there are for coins issued from 1973 to 1978.

Americans did save quantities of the 1971-D Eisenhower Dollar, however. It is common that the American public demonstrates added enthusiasm for saving the first or last coin in a series. The first coin is saved out of enthusiasm for a new design and the desire to save one, or more, as souvenirs. The last coin is saved as a way to preserve a moment in time. By our estimation more 1971 Eisenhower dollars were saved in Mint State than 1972 dollars.

So what are 1971-D Eisenhower dollars worth? The answer is surprising. At a minimum, a 1971-D Eisenhower dollar has a face value of $1, which means that it can be used to buy $1 worth of goods, even today. Coin collectors are willing to pay between $3 and $10 for 1971-D Eisenhower dollars in About Uncirculated / Uncirculated condition.

The value of the coin increases dramatically in high uncirculated grades starting at MS65 and above. One caveat though, generally speaking, when modern coins are attributed as being graded MS65 or MS66, collectors expect that coins have been professionally graded and encapsulated in CAC, NGC, or PCGS holders.

This 1971-D Eisenhower Dollar was sold at a April 2023 Stack's Bowers auction for $840.
This 1971-D Eisenhower Dollar was sold at a April 2023 Stack’s Bowers auction for $840.

In Mint State 65, the 1971-D carries a price of about $30 according to CoinWeek IQ’s current market analytics. It is a first-year-of-issue and type coin that carries a significant numismatic premium in ultra-high grades (or if it is a gem-quality “Friendly Eagle Variety” – more on that in a moment).

In Mint State 67, auction records indicate that the value of this issue at this level has fallen dramatically from where it was four or five years ago when a typical example might bring $1,500. These prices dropped to about $600 in 2020 and has since come back to about $900 today. Stack’s Bowers sold a mid-range example graded PCGS MS67 for $840 in April 2023.

The three finest examples that we’ve ever seen are the two MS67s from the Richland Ikes Collection, assembled by Ike Group founder Andy Oskam, and another MS67 that was part of Troy Weaver’s amazing registry set (now owned by Del Loy Hansen). Weaver’s example was a Peg Leg (die polished R) variety with a Talon clash mark on Ike’s forehead.

But perhaps the best of all was the modestly-toned NGC MS68 that brought an eye-popping $8,225 at a March 2020 Legend Rare Coin Auction. This has to be the highest price ever paid for a 1971-D clad Ike dollar and to date, PCGS has certified no coins at this level.

The 1971-D (RDV-006) “Friendly Eagle Variety”

Discovered in 1999 by variety specialist Dr. James Wiles and popularized in the subsequent decade by the Ike Group, the 1971-D “Friendly Eagle Variety” is a naked-eye-visible variety that is not as easy to cherrypick as it once was (you can blame CoinWeek Editor Charles Morgan for lobbying for the coin to get into the Cherrypicker’s Guide’s 5th edition and the Red Book).

The Friendly Eagle features a rounded Earth (the regular issue is not as perfectly round at the upper left area of the globe). On that rounded Earth, you will see a rounded and distinctly carved out Gulf of Mexico and a distinct chain of islands in the Caribean. The eagle’s brow is softer (one might say “friendlier”) than the standard issue. There is no heavy separation apparent in the relief between the top two of the eagle’s tailfeathers on this variety. Also, the lines leading up to the impact ejecta “lines” of the crater are longer, more distinct, and bracket the second L in DOLLAR. In Very Early Die State, some FEVs show a contrail-shaped die scratch bordering the upper left portion of the globe. This feature was discovered by Ike Group member Brian Vaile.

As for scarcity, the Friendly Eagle is not rare but probably represents no more than one million to 1.5 million of the issue’s 68,587,424 struck. Ike dollar specialists consider this a major variety and a semi-key to the series, the key being the 1972 “Type 2” variety.

In MS65, the FEV sells for $100-$125. To date, PCGS reports 66 examples in MS66 with 3 in MS66+. No MS66+ has sold at public auction. MS66 examples have sold for $500 or more. One example, sold in July 21, 2022 by Heritage Auctions slipped through the cracks after the firm misrepresented its population data and offered collectors no information about the variety in the lot description. In that instance, the lucky buyer was able to acquire a $400-$500 coin for $204.

To our knowledge, no finer coins have been certified by NGC. Both services charge a fee to attribute this variety.

Description

Obverse:

Frank Gasparro’s portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower (as president); Eisenhower facing to the left. Gasparro’s initials “FG” appear raised in the bust truncation. Beneath Eisenhower’s chin, to the left, is the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” LIBERTY wraps around the top of the coin in the space between the rim and the top of Eisenhower’s head. The date wraps around the bottom of the design, between the rim and the bottom of Eisenhower’s bust truncation. While Philadelphia-struck pieces bear no mintmark, coins struck at Denver and San Francisco will bear small mintmarks of “D” or “S” above the space between the last two digits of the date. On Eisenhower dollars, mintmarks were hand-punched and may vary in exact location and orientation.

Reverse:

The reverse is based on Michael Collins’ Apollo 11 Mission Patch design.

In the center, a bald eagle in descent. In its talons, an olive branch. Its left wing is raised. The lunar surface lies below. Above the eagle’s head is a depiction of the Earth. North America is prominently visible. Wrapping around the top of the coin adjacent to the rim is the legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Thirteen small five-point stars circle around the eagle. Below the ring of stars but above the eagle is the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM”. Wrapping around the bottom of the design is the denomination “ONE DOLLAR”.

Edge:

The edge of the 1971-D Eisenhower dollar is reeded.

Designer

Frank Gasparro was a friend to numismatists and served as Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1965 to 1981 (View Designer’s Profile).

Coin Specifications

Country:  United States
Year Of Issue:  1971
Denomination:  One Dollar
Mint Mark:  D (Denver)
Mintage:  68,587,424
Alloy:  Copper-Nickel (Cu-Ni)
Weight:  22.68 g
Diameter:  38.10 mm
OBV Designer  Frank Gasparro
REV Designer  Frank Gasparro | Michael Collins
Quality:  Uncirculated

 

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When Dealing With Eisenhower Dollars, Grade Is Everything

By Charles Morgan for CoinWeek ….. For better or worse, Whitman’s A Guidebook of United States Coins (the Red Book) is still the gold standard in printed price guides, even Eisenhower dollars. That doesn’t mean, however, that its pricing scheme is the best or even the most accurate. But more than any other publication, beginner […]

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United States 1971-D Eisenhower Dollar

Even though the United States had no real need for a large dollar coin at the start of the 1970s, the gaming industry developed an acute need to find a replacement for the silver dollars used to feed tens of thousands of slot machines. Hence the birth of the Eisenhower Dollar.  This “need”, and the […]

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United States 1972-S Uncirculated Eisenhower Dollar

A year after the initial buzz… and then thud… of the release of a new dollar coin, the United States Mint continued its work to refine and improve Frank Gasparro’s design. A number of subtle changes were undertaken by the Mint’s engraving department, including a mid-year change in the quality of die steel used to […]

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CoinWeek Streaming News: Let’s Talk High-End Eisenhower Dollars (w/ James Sego)

  CoinWeek Streaming News is brought to you by NGC. For information about NGC’s current grading specials and services, as well as to look up certs, pricing information, and current populations, visit www.ngccoin.com. * * * CoinWeek editor Charles Morgan and Eisenhower dollar specialist James Sego team up to talk about the current state of the high-end […]

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Six Different Types of U.S. Dollar Coins Since 1971

By Bullion Shark LLC …… In the years since silver was removed from our circulating coinage in 1964, there have been multiple attempts to create a dollar coin for commerce that would save taxpayers money since coins last much longer than paper bills. In fact, coins typically last around 15 years, while paper money lasts […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – Ike Dollar Overstruck by Cent Dies

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… 1972 Eisenhower Dollar Overstruck by 1972 Cent Dies PCGS MS 63 UNIQUE * * * This is a spectacular and unique Mint State Eisenhower dollar that was overstruck twice by 1972 Lincoln cent dies. A struck Eisenhower dollar was intentionally placed underneath two adjacent Lincoln cent die […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – 1973-S Proof Eisenhower Dollar in Bronze

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… 1973-S Proof BRONZE Eisenhower Dollar Broadstruck on Bronze Planchet PCGS PR 62 RED CAMEO UNIQUE This unique and amazing 1973-S Proof Eisenhower Dollar was broadstruck on a 26g bronze planchet. Since it was struck by Proof Ike Dollar dies, the collar was set up to hold the […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – Unique 1973-S Proof Ike Dollar Mated Pair

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… 1973-S Proof Ike Dollar Mated Pair Ike Dollar Struck on a 1¢ Planchet mated with an Ike Dollar Indented by a 1¢ Planchet PCGS PR67 & PR67RB   This unique discovery is the only known mated off-metal and indented pair on any United States Proof coin. This […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – 1976-D Ike Dollar on 40% Silver Planchet

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… 1976-D Bicentennial Ike Dollar Struck on a 40% Silver Planchet from the San Francisco Mint (Should be on a Clad Planchet) PCGS MS 64 One of Only Two Known   This is an amazing and extremely rare Eisenhower Dollar off-metal. Mint State Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollars were struck […]

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Gem Proof Barber Quarters, Ike Dollars Offered by David Lawrence Rare Coins

Sunday Auction #1241 from David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) is now live and features over 450 total lots – including more than 75 No Reserve lots and over 20 Vault Values. Included in the variety of fantastic PCGS-, NGC-, and CAC-approved items in this week’s sale is a popular key date 1916-D 10c PCGS/CAC VF35; […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – Ike Dollar on Lincoln Cent Planchet

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… Ike Dollar Struck on 1¢ Planchet (3.14g) NGC PF 66 RED   This is an amazing Proof Ike Dollar struck on a cent planchet that is perfectly centered. The eye appeal is amazing since it shows the full portrait on the obverse, the eagle on the reverse, […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – 1973-S “Blue Ike” Eisenhower Dollar on Clad Planchet

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… 1973-S Eisenhower Dollar “Blue Ike” Struck on a Clad Planchet 22.3 grams (Should be on a 40% Silver Planchet) PCGS AU 58 One of Only Two Known   This is an amazing and extremely rare Eisenhower Dollar off-metal. Mint State Eisenhower Dollars struck in silver came in […]

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Rare Modern US No Mint Mark Proof Coins

By Bullion Shark LLC …… Modern Proof coins that were struck at the San Francisco Mint, as most Proof coinage has been since 1968, normally bear an “S” mint mark. A small number of these coins have surfaced over the years that lack the mint mark, and they are among the greatest rarities of modern […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – Unique Proof 1971-S Eisenhower Dollar Overstruck on San Francisco Assay Office Medal

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… This unique Proof 1971-S Eisenhower Dollar overstruck on a San Francisco Assay Office medal is featured in the Platinum Session of the August 2022 Heritage US Coins Signature Auction #1348. From the Heritage Auction listing: 1971-S $1 Eisenhower Dollar — Overstruck on a San Francisco Assay Office […]

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Why Weren’t 1973 Business-Strike Eisenhower Dollars Minted for Circulation?

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… The 1973 Eisenhower Dollar is one of a handful of coins made by the United States Mint during the 1970s and ‘80s not produced for circulation, leaving many numismatists to wonder why. However, a brief review of the Eisenhower Dollar series as a whole and its inability to garner […]

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United States 1971 (P) Eisenhower Dollar

Description: Even though the United States had no real need for a large dollar coin at the start of the 1970s, the gaming industry developed an acute need to find a replacement for the silver dollars it used to feed tens of thousands of slot machines. This “need”, and the recent passing of beloved war-hero-turned-President […]

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One of Three Known Eisenhower Dollar Prototypes in 1st Auction Appearance at FUN

Heritage Auctions is proud to present a 1971-S $1 Eisenhower Dollar Prototype, Specimen 67 PCGS, as a part of our Platinum Night offerings in the January 5-10 FUN Signature Auction. This prototype is one of the rarest of all silver dollars struck since 1794, and it has been poetically described as the “birth certificate of […]

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GreatCollections Offering 1972-S Eisenhower Dollar Wrong Planchet Error

The firm GreatCollections is offering a major error, a 1972-S Proof Eisenhower dollar struck on a clad Kennedy half dollar planchet, in an auction closing on October 17. The error is certified PF67DCAM with a Gold Shield by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and at the time of writing has a bid above $2,800 USD. […]

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United States 1978-D Eisenhower Dollar

The era of the big dollar coin was already coming to a close when the United States Mint struck the last 59,000,000 Eisenhower dollar coins for circulation at the Denver and Philadelphia Mints. Denver had the honor of striking slightly more, and as had been the case through the entire series, struck them better than […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – Proof San Francisco Eisenhower Dollar Double Struck on Aluminum Token

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… Proof 197X-S Ike Dollar Double Struck on 2 Gram Aluminum Shell Gas Token PCGS PR 64 1 of 3 Known   This is an amazing and spectacular major mint error Proof coin. It is a Proof Eisenhower dollar from the San Francisco Mint that is double struck […]

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When Dealing With Eisenhower Dollars, Grade Is Everything

By Charles Morgan for CoinWeek …..   For better or worse, Whitman’s A Guidebook of United States Coins (the Red Book) is still the gold standard in printed price guides, even Eisenhower dollars. That doesn’t mean, however, that its pricing scheme is the best or even the most accurate. But more than any other publication, […]

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United States 1990 Eisenhower Centennial Dollar

Description: The 1990 Eisenhower Centennial Dollar is the second United States coin struck to honor the 34th President of the United States, the first was the circulating Eisenhower dollar issued from 1971-1978. Authorized by Public Law 100-467 (Act of October 3, 1988), which authorized the striking of up to 4,000,000 silver dollars to commemorate the […]

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United States 1973 (P) Eisenhower Dollar

Description: While the country-at-large’s desire for a large dollar coin at the start of the 1970s was hardly demonstrable, the gaming industry developed an acute need to find a replacement for the silver dollars it used to feed tens of thousands of slot machines. This “need”, and the recent passing of beloved war-hero-turned-President Dwight D. […]

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United States 1972 (P) Eisenhower Dollar

  The Eisenhower Dollar While the country at large’s desire for a large dollar coin at the start of the 1970s was hardly demonstrable, the gaming industry developed an acute need to find a replacement for the silver dollars it used to feed tens of thousands of slot machines. This “need”, and the recent passing […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – Amazing Unique Proof Ike Dollar Clover Leaf Offered in Central States Heritage Auction

“Clover Leaf” Eisenhower Dollar Struck on Dime Planchets NGC PR 68 Ultra Cameo   By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… From the Heritage Auction listing for this one-of-a-kind Ike dollar: Undated Three-Piece “Clover Leaf” Eisenhower Dollar — Struck on Clad Dime Planchets — PR68 Ultra Cameo NGC. The word unique is used perhaps […]

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United States 1971-D Eisenhower Dollar

Even though the United States had no real need for a large dollar coin at the start of the 1970s, the gaming industry developed an acute need to find a replacement for the silver dollars used to feed tens of thousands of slot machines. This “need”, and the recent death of beloved war-hero-turned-president Dwight D. […]

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United States 1972-S Uncirculated Eisenhower Dollar

Description A year after the initial buzz… and then thud… of the release of a new dollar coin, the United States Mint continued its work to refine and improve Frank Gasparro’s design. A number of subtle changes were undertaken by the Mint’s engraving department, including a mid-year change in the quality of die steel used […]

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Eisenhower Dollars: History, Values and Scarce Coins

By Bullion Shark LLC …… Eisenhower dollars, issued from 1971 to 1978, were the first dollar coins issued since the Peace dollar series ended in 1935. Eisenhower dollar coins are also the only circulating cupronickel dollars that are the same size as classic silver dollars, and the last dollar coins that include some silver. They […]

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United States 1978-D Eisenhower Dollar

Description Even though the United States had no real need for a large dollar coin at the start of the 1970s, the gaming industry developed an acute need to find a replacement for the silver dollars it used to feed tens of thousands of slot machines. This “need”, and the recent passing of beloved war-hero-turned-President […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – Unique 1972-S Proof Ike Dollar Mated Pair

Ike Dollar Struck on a 1¢ Planchet mated with an Ike Dollar Struck on a 10¢ Planchet NGC Proof 67 AMAZING UNIQUE DISCOVERY   By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… This amazing unique discovery is the only known off-metal mated pair on any U.S. Proof coinage that combines two different off-metals. This mated […]

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Proof Cameo 1973-S Ike Dollar Double Struck on Half Dollar Planchet Sells at Heritage US Coin Signature Auction

By CoinWeek …. From August 3 through 9, Heritage Auctions held its August 2020 Signature Auction of U.S. Coins. Among the lots on offer were several mint error coins of various denominations. Most of these were sold on August 3. Sold on August 4, lot 3959 featured a Proof 1973-S Eisenhower dollar double struck on […]

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Five Modern Coins You Should Be Looking for Right Now

Editors Note: We have re-posted this article for those that may have missed it the first go around. Enjoy! By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….. We’ve put together a list of five great modern coins that you should be looking for right now. None of them will break the bank, and finding […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – Unique Multiple Error Clad Ike Dollar Struck on Quarter Planchet

Also Features a 70% Reverse Indent by a QUARTER Planchet   By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… All Ike dollar off-metals are highly prized by serious collectors of major U.S. Mint Errors and collectors of Ike dollars. The only two that are occasionally available are the Ike dollar struck on a Philippine 1 […]

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CoinWeek Stream: 20th Century Coin Masterpieces – The Pogue Collection: Part VII

  On March 20, Stack’s Bowers Galleries will conduct the seventh session of sales of the historic collection of D. Brent Pogue. In this streaming segment, CoinWeek editor Charles Morgan breaks down some of his favorite 20th-century coins from the sale. Discussed in this stream: Lot 7015: 1919 Lincoln Cent. MS-68 RD (PCGS). Lot 7019: […]

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Mike Byers Mint Error News – 1973-S Proof Clad Ike Dollar Double Struck on 50¢ Planchet

By Mike Byers for Mint Error News …… This is one of the most spectacular Proof Ike dollar mint errors of all time. Not only is it a spectacular double struck, but it is also struck on a clad half dollar planchet. There are two Proof Ike dollars known that were double struck on clad […]

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United States 1974-D Eisenhower Dollar

Description: Besides removing silver from the quarter, dime, and nickel, the Coinage Act of 1965 also mandated that no new silver dollars could be coined until 1970, at which time the need for the denomination would be reevaluated. That “need”, apparently, came from an unexpected source: Nevada gambling casinos. Though small numbers of silver dollars […]

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United States 1977 Eisenhower Dollar

Description: Besides removing silver from the quarter, dime, and nickel, the Coinage Act of 1965 also mandated that no new silver dollars could be coined until 1970, at which time the need for the denomination would be reevaluated. That “need”, apparently, came from an unexpected source: Nevada gambling casinos. Though small numbers of silver dollars […]

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United States 1973 Eisenhower Dollar

Description: Even though the United States had no real need for a large dollar coin at the start of the 1970s, the gaming industry developed an acute need to find a replacement for the silver dollars it used to feed tens of thousands of slot machines. This “need”, and the recent passing of beloved war-hero-turned-President […]

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United States 1973 Eisenhower Dollar

Description: Even though the United States had no real need for a large dollar coin at the start of the 1970s, the gaming industry developed an acute need to find a replacement for the silver dollars it used to feed tens of thousands of slot machines. This “need”, and the recent passing of beloved war-hero-turned-President […]

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What Is a 1971-74 Eisenhower Dollar Brown Pack Worth?

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….. As the last circulating dollar coin issued by the United States that contained at least some silver, the Eisenhower dollar straddles the line between the “classic” and “modern” eras of American coinage. Not too long ago–much like Kennedy half dollars and Bicentennial quarters–one might find an […]

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United States 1971 (P) Eisenhower Dollar

Description: While the country-at-large’s desire for a large dollar coin at the start of the 1970s was hardly demonstrable, the gaming industry developed an acute need to find a replacement for the silver dollars it used to feed tens of thousands of slot machines. This “need”, and the recent passing of beloved war-hero-turned-President Dwight D. […]

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Bowers on collecting: Among my favorites — Sacagawea “golden dollars” part two

By Q. David Bowers
This week I continue my comments on Sacagawea dollars

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US Coins – Jack and Ike: The 40 Percent Club Short Set

By Ron Drzewucki – www.moderncoinwholesale.com ….. Collecting Strategies on building a 40% silver Short Set  1965 was a momentous year for U.S. coinage. It was the year we made the switch from silver alloy to clad, and for many it marks the boundary between “real” money and whatever you’d want to call our coinage since then. […]

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Collecting Strategies – How Liquid Is Your Coin Collection?

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek…. Off the top of your head, can you say how much your collection is worth and Do you have  collecting strategies for selling in an emergency? How liquid is your collection? Your answers to any of these questions say a lot about you as a collector. How you […]

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Stack’s Bowers November Baltimore Auction: Modern Lots You Need to Know

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….. Stack’s Bowers’ Baltimore sales are always a good source of fresh coins for collectors looking for type material, rarities, and numismatic items that are a little bit off of the beaten path. When the first session kicks off on the evening of November 8, expect to see […]

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Editor’s Choice: eBay US Coin Highlights of the Week

By CoinWeek …..   Each day, CoinWeek’s editors comb eBay’s thousands of numismatic auctions and listings in search of 10 Cool Coins! that you need to know. Today, we focus on US Coins. Today’s highlights include the finest Eisenhower dollar collection ever built; a superb gem 1881 Proof Set; the finest known Templeton Reid $2.50 […]

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First Read: A Guide Book of Modern United States Dollar Coins

First Read, a continuing series of essays about classic and contemporary works of numismatic literature… Review by Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for CoinWeek ….. A new era in United States coinage dawned in 1971 with the launch of the Eisenhower dollar. It was the first dollar coin issued since the Peace dollar series ended in 1935. Unfortunately […]

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Freedom-Oriented U.S. Coins And Notes

By Al Doyle for CoinWeek…. Here’s a short but focused area of U.S. Numismatics: Coins and notes with a strong message of freedom and independence. These pieces go well beyond the ubiquitous portraits of an allegorical Miss Liberty, and they can be found at every price point on the spectrum. A pair of large-sized $5 […]

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Whitman Publishing Releases New Bowers Book on Modern Dollar Coins

Whitman Publishing announces the release of A Guide Book of Modern United States Dollar Coins, by Q. David Bowers. The 320-page book (number 22 in the popular Bowers Series) debuts July 26 and will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, and online (including at www.Whitman.com), for $19.95. The Bowers Series is a popular […]

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Whitman Publishing Releases New Bowers Book on Modern Dollar Coins

Whitman Publishing announces the release of A Guide Book of Modern United States Dollar Coins, by Q. David Bowers. The 320-page book (number 22 in the popular Bowers Series) debuts July 26 and will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, and online (including at www.Whitman.com), for $19.95. The Bowers Series is a popular […]

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Modern US Coins – Ike Dollar Registry Set Hits eBay

One of the finest collections of Eisenhower dollars ever assembled is turning heads on eBay By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for CoinWeek ……. An exquisite Ike dollar set, built by Eisenhower dollar enthusiast Troy Weaver, has been listed on popular online auction site eBay for a “Buy-it-Now” price of US$170,000, with best offers considered. The 26-coin set […]

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Coin Grading – New Norman Rockwell Labels from NGC

Offered exclusively for NGC Collectors Society members, these Norman Rockwell labels are available only until June 30 or while supplies last Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) has created two special certification labels featuring portraits by the famous American illustrator Norman Rockwell. These labels show Rockwell’s portraits of presidents John F. Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower, which […]

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Q. David Bowers Eulogizes the Modern Dollar

By Q. David Bowers – Stack’s Bowers In recent months, I have been working on and off on a manuscript for Whitman covering modern dollar coins from 1971 to date. In essence these comprise Eisenhower dollars (1971-1978), Susan B. Anthony dollars (1979-1981 and then a stray issue in 1999), Sacagawea dollars (2000 onward), blending into the […]

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