- Eisenhower 1776 To 1976 Silver Dollar Value
- 1776 To 1976 Silver Dollar Value Circulated
- Eisenhower Silver Dollar Value Chart
- 1776 1976 Silver Dollar E
- 1776 To 1976 Silver Dollar Value Kennedy
Save 1776-1976 us silver dollar to get e-mail alerts and updates on your eBay Feed. + Update your shipping location 7 S 0 P O N S O A R P A 7 E E D-1-1 U J-1 0 F J-1-1. 1964-D Washington Quarter Dollar Silver Coin and 11 1776-1976 US Quarters. Use the NGC Coin Explorer to determine numismatic values for Kennedy Half Dollars, including the 1776-1976 S SILVER 50C MS. The NGC Coin Explorer also provides coin images, auction results, Registry information and more! Get the best deals on 1776 1976 One Dollar when you shop the largest online selection at eBay. LOT OF 3 1776-1976 EISENHOWER SILVER DOLLARS. BICENTENNIAL COINS. The mint began production of these dual dated bicentennial coins of 1776-1976 in 1975 to meet the anticipated demand of collectors across the country. Therefore there are no Eisenhower dollars. There are 169 1776 1976 silver dollar for sale on Etsy, and they cost $245.67 on average. The most common 1776 1976 silver dollar material is metal. The most popular.
If you're looking for an Eisenhower dollar price guide and don't want to read the full article, click the link or scroll down.
In previous articles, we've explained how to value earlier series of U.S silver dollars, like Morgan and Peace Dollars (minted 1878-1935) as well as Trade Dollars(1873-1885). In today's article, we're going to discuss a more modern dollar coin — the Eisenhower Dollar, minted from 1971-1978.
History of the Eisenhower Dollar
Originally struck from 1971 to 1978, Eisenhower Dollars (or 'Ikes') were the first large-size dollar coins to be produced by the U.S. Mint since the end of the Peace Dollar series in 1935.
As you might guess from the name, Eisenhower Dollars were created to commemorate President Dwight Eisenhower, whose portrait is featured on the obverse (front) side of the coin.
Eisenhower was selected in part because of his political party affiliation. Republicans in Congress agreed that the Mint needed a coin commemorating a Republican president, as the Democrats had recently secured a spot for President Kennedy on the half dollar (replacing Benjamin Franklin).
The coin's reverse features the Apollo 11 insignia, an eagle landing on the moon while grasping an olive branch, in commemoration of the first Apollo mission moon landing in 1969. The coin's designer, Frank Gasparro, was ordered to change his original design of the eagle because it was 'too fierce and too warlike', and reluctantly updated it to make the eagle look friendlier.
Unlike Peace Dollars and Morgan Dollars, Eisenhower dollars were minted in a copper-nickel alloy rather than a 90% silver 10% copper alloy.
Eisenhower 1776 To 1976 Silver Dollar Value
By the 1970's, silver prices had risen to the point where striking general circulation coins from silver was no longer cost-effective. Prior to 1965, all dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollars coins were produced in a 90% silver 10% copper alloy. This proved a point of contention for Congress—several congressmen argued that producing the new dollar coin in copper-nickel instead of silver would be a dishonor to Eisenhower's memory.
But eventually a compromise was reached. All Eisenhower Dollars produced for general circulation would be struck in copper-nickel, while the Mint would also sell dollar coins with a special 40% silver alloy to collectors for a small premium.
As a result, most Ikes aren't true 'silver dollars.' But the upside of that is that Eisenhower dollars are much more affordable than their 90% silver predecessors.
There are two different reverse designs within the Eisenhower series. From 1971 to 1974 and from 1977 to 1978, the Apollo 11 design was used for the coin's reverse. But in 1976, all quarters, half dollars, and dollar coins were switched to a special design commemorating the nation's bicentennial. The 1776-1976 Eisenhower Dollar featured the Liberty Bell superimposed upon the moon.
Free Download - Our 20-page Beginner's Guide to Coin Collecting
Follow the link above to receive our free 20-page PDF guide to coin collecting, including:
- 5 Rules Every Collector Should Know
- Where to Buy and Sell Coins
- How to Determine Coin Value
- How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off
- How to Grade Coins
Values
(Values derived from the Red Book, the definitive price guide for U.S. coins).
1776 To 1976 Silver Dollar Value Circulated
Circulated Condition means a coin with signs of wear or marks, from being circulated/used by the general public.
1921 peace dollar. The 1921 Peace dollar is a very interesting and extremely important coin. It is, of course, the first year of issue for the Peace dollar series. Slightly over a million. In all, only 1,006,473 Peace dollars were struck in 1921, some of which were struck in a matte proof version. 1921 Peace dollars are quite popular with coin collectors.
Uncirculated Condition means a coin with bright original mint luster and no signs of wear. See the picture below for a visual comparison of the two.
As you can see, most Eisenhower dollars are readily available and are worth little more than face value. However, there are a few more valuable coins that are well worth keeping an eye out for.
Rare Eisenhower Dollars
While all Ikes intended for general circulation were struck in copper-nickel, the U.S. Mint also struck a number of S-mintmark coins (produced at the San Francisco mint) for collectors in 40% silver (each containing 1/3rd ounce pure silver). Not all S-mint Ikes are silver though, as the 1977-S and 1978-S Eisenhower dollars were both produced in copper-nickel.
The silver coins can be identified by their lighter color (see copper-nickel vs silver). A simple way to determine whether your Ike is silver or copper-nickel is the tissue test, as demonstrated below.
Simply place a facial tissue on top of your dollar coin and see whether the color that shines through is darker or lighter. The coin on the left is silver-clad, whereas the darker one on the right is copper-nickel.There is also one copper-nickel coin variety that commands a premium. The rare 1972 'Type 2' design variety with no mintmark is worth upwards of $30 in all conditions. Type 2 dollars are identified by the details of Earth, above the eagle on the reverse side of the coin. Next to the outline of Florida there are no distinguishable islands on Type 2 Ikes. On the less valuable Type 1 and Type 2 1972 dollars, there are distinct islands in the Caribbean. No other years in the Eisenhower Dollar series besides the 1972 feature the rare Type 2 design.
German silver coins value. Here's a picture to illustrate the difference - note the small islands visible within the red circles on the Type 1 and Type 3 coins, while the Type 2 coin shows no distinct islands.
The Type 2 design is rough and undefined, with a barely distinguishable outline of the east coast, while small dots/islands can be spotted off the coast of Florida on the Type 1 and Type 3 designs. This can be tough to spot, so make sure you're using a magnifying glass or a jeweler's loupe to be sure.
Outside of the 1972 Type 2 and the silver Ikes, there are no real rarities within the series. Proof coins, specially produced by the U.S. Mint with mirrored surfaces and sold to collectors, are generally only worth a small premium.
But the lack of keydates means that a nice set of Eisenhower Dollars is easily attainable no matter what your budget.
Last updated 8/7/2018
Bicentennial Design
What This Coin Looks Like (Obverse, Reverse, Mint Mark Location, Special Features, etc.):
This is the unique 1976 'No S' Type 2 Silver-Clad Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar - Only 1 coin is known to exist! The image above depicts that very same exact coin. Source of example image is courtesy of PCGS.
Eisenhower Silver Dollar Value Chart
The story of this coin begins on August 12 of 1974 when the three winning designers of the three bicentennial coins were allowed to have their coins struck for the first time. These coins would only be trial versions before the coins were issued to the public. The trial coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint - which is why there wasn't an 'S' mintmark on them. They were later sent to the ANA Convention in Florida to be presented to the public. Mint Director Mary Brooks indicated that these 'No S' coins were destroyed once they returned to the Mint and were replaced with coins with an 'S' mint mark.
The US Mint has confirmed that the Philadelphia Mint did produce earlier Type 1 proof coins for presentation and trial versions. In mid-1975 - Frank Gasparro (US Mint Chief Engraver) contacted Denis Williams (winning designer of the bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar reverse) and requested permission to change the design of the reverse of the coin to improve the quality and efficiency of coin production at the mint. The big change was that the lettering on the reverse was altered into narrower and thinner letters with a high relief strike. This would be known at the Type 2 reverse. The US Mint never mentioned whether the Philadelphia Mint produced this later Type 2 proof dollar - so it remains a mystery!
There is a logical theory about how this unique coin came to be. When Frank Gasparro consulted Williams - it's very likely that he struck a test version or a trial piece of the Type 2 Eisenhower dollar at the Philadelphia Mint - just to see if the new design would work properly. Another theory is that Mary Brooks (US Mint Director at the time) could have ordered the production of special promotional and presentation sets of the Type 2 dollar as well - 'No S' coins produced in Philadelphia. The coin could have been presented to a Congressman or high level official in Washington.
1776 1976 Silver Dollar E
This coin was actually discovered in 1977 at a department store called Woodward and Lathrup - located in the Washington DC area. It's possible that whoever had this coin (possibly a member of Congress?) spent it at the store assuming it was just a regular old Eisenhower dollar and didn't realize that this coin was actually a unique one-of-a-kind piece! The coin is now owned by Mitchell Spivack - Modern Coin Expert. He considers this coin to be the rarest and most special non-error modern US coin in history - especially considering that this coin also happens to commemorate the 200th anniversary of our nation.
There were two major varieties of the 1976 Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar - Type 1 (Type I) and Type 2 (Type II). Type 1 features bolder and thicker lettering on the reverse of the coin - also struck in a lower relief. Type 2 features sharper and narrower lettering on the reverse of the coin - struck in a higher relief. The difference between the 1976 Type 1 vs Type 2 Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar varieties is depicted below in the example comparison image. (All 1976 S Silver-Clad Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollars - except 1 - were of Type 1):
Originally struck from 1971 to 1978, Eisenhower Dollars (or 'Ikes') were the first large-size dollar coins to be produced by the U.S. Mint since the end of the Peace Dollar series in 1935.
As you might guess from the name, Eisenhower Dollars were created to commemorate President Dwight Eisenhower, whose portrait is featured on the obverse (front) side of the coin.
Eisenhower was selected in part because of his political party affiliation. Republicans in Congress agreed that the Mint needed a coin commemorating a Republican president, as the Democrats had recently secured a spot for President Kennedy on the half dollar (replacing Benjamin Franklin).
The coin's reverse features the Apollo 11 insignia, an eagle landing on the moon while grasping an olive branch, in commemoration of the first Apollo mission moon landing in 1969. The coin's designer, Frank Gasparro, was ordered to change his original design of the eagle because it was 'too fierce and too warlike', and reluctantly updated it to make the eagle look friendlier.
Unlike Peace Dollars and Morgan Dollars, Eisenhower dollars were minted in a copper-nickel alloy rather than a 90% silver 10% copper alloy.
Eisenhower 1776 To 1976 Silver Dollar Value
By the 1970's, silver prices had risen to the point where striking general circulation coins from silver was no longer cost-effective. Prior to 1965, all dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollars coins were produced in a 90% silver 10% copper alloy. This proved a point of contention for Congress—several congressmen argued that producing the new dollar coin in copper-nickel instead of silver would be a dishonor to Eisenhower's memory.
But eventually a compromise was reached. All Eisenhower Dollars produced for general circulation would be struck in copper-nickel, while the Mint would also sell dollar coins with a special 40% silver alloy to collectors for a small premium.
As a result, most Ikes aren't true 'silver dollars.' But the upside of that is that Eisenhower dollars are much more affordable than their 90% silver predecessors.
There are two different reverse designs within the Eisenhower series. From 1971 to 1974 and from 1977 to 1978, the Apollo 11 design was used for the coin's reverse. But in 1976, all quarters, half dollars, and dollar coins were switched to a special design commemorating the nation's bicentennial. The 1776-1976 Eisenhower Dollar featured the Liberty Bell superimposed upon the moon.
Free Download - Our 20-page Beginner's Guide to Coin Collecting
Follow the link above to receive our free 20-page PDF guide to coin collecting, including:
- 5 Rules Every Collector Should Know
- Where to Buy and Sell Coins
- How to Determine Coin Value
- How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off
- How to Grade Coins
Values
(Values derived from the Red Book, the definitive price guide for U.S. coins).
1776 To 1976 Silver Dollar Value Circulated
Circulated Condition means a coin with signs of wear or marks, from being circulated/used by the general public.
1921 peace dollar. The 1921 Peace dollar is a very interesting and extremely important coin. It is, of course, the first year of issue for the Peace dollar series. Slightly over a million. In all, only 1,006,473 Peace dollars were struck in 1921, some of which were struck in a matte proof version. 1921 Peace dollars are quite popular with coin collectors.
Uncirculated Condition means a coin with bright original mint luster and no signs of wear. See the picture below for a visual comparison of the two.
As you can see, most Eisenhower dollars are readily available and are worth little more than face value. However, there are a few more valuable coins that are well worth keeping an eye out for.
Rare Eisenhower Dollars
While all Ikes intended for general circulation were struck in copper-nickel, the U.S. Mint also struck a number of S-mintmark coins (produced at the San Francisco mint) for collectors in 40% silver (each containing 1/3rd ounce pure silver). Not all S-mint Ikes are silver though, as the 1977-S and 1978-S Eisenhower dollars were both produced in copper-nickel.
The silver coins can be identified by their lighter color (see copper-nickel vs silver). A simple way to determine whether your Ike is silver or copper-nickel is the tissue test, as demonstrated below.
Simply place a facial tissue on top of your dollar coin and see whether the color that shines through is darker or lighter. The coin on the left is silver-clad, whereas the darker one on the right is copper-nickel.There is also one copper-nickel coin variety that commands a premium. The rare 1972 'Type 2' design variety with no mintmark is worth upwards of $30 in all conditions. Type 2 dollars are identified by the details of Earth, above the eagle on the reverse side of the coin. Next to the outline of Florida there are no distinguishable islands on Type 2 Ikes. On the less valuable Type 1 and Type 2 1972 dollars, there are distinct islands in the Caribbean. No other years in the Eisenhower Dollar series besides the 1972 feature the rare Type 2 design.
German silver coins value. Here's a picture to illustrate the difference - note the small islands visible within the red circles on the Type 1 and Type 3 coins, while the Type 2 coin shows no distinct islands.
The Type 2 design is rough and undefined, with a barely distinguishable outline of the east coast, while small dots/islands can be spotted off the coast of Florida on the Type 1 and Type 3 designs. This can be tough to spot, so make sure you're using a magnifying glass or a jeweler's loupe to be sure.
Outside of the 1972 Type 2 and the silver Ikes, there are no real rarities within the series. Proof coins, specially produced by the U.S. Mint with mirrored surfaces and sold to collectors, are generally only worth a small premium.
But the lack of keydates means that a nice set of Eisenhower Dollars is easily attainable no matter what your budget.
Last updated 8/7/2018
Bicentennial Design
What This Coin Looks Like (Obverse, Reverse, Mint Mark Location, Special Features, etc.):
This is the unique 1976 'No S' Type 2 Silver-Clad Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar - Only 1 coin is known to exist! The image above depicts that very same exact coin. Source of example image is courtesy of PCGS.
Eisenhower Silver Dollar Value Chart
The story of this coin begins on August 12 of 1974 when the three winning designers of the three bicentennial coins were allowed to have their coins struck for the first time. These coins would only be trial versions before the coins were issued to the public. The trial coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint - which is why there wasn't an 'S' mintmark on them. They were later sent to the ANA Convention in Florida to be presented to the public. Mint Director Mary Brooks indicated that these 'No S' coins were destroyed once they returned to the Mint and were replaced with coins with an 'S' mint mark.
The US Mint has confirmed that the Philadelphia Mint did produce earlier Type 1 proof coins for presentation and trial versions. In mid-1975 - Frank Gasparro (US Mint Chief Engraver) contacted Denis Williams (winning designer of the bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar reverse) and requested permission to change the design of the reverse of the coin to improve the quality and efficiency of coin production at the mint. The big change was that the lettering on the reverse was altered into narrower and thinner letters with a high relief strike. This would be known at the Type 2 reverse. The US Mint never mentioned whether the Philadelphia Mint produced this later Type 2 proof dollar - so it remains a mystery!
There is a logical theory about how this unique coin came to be. When Frank Gasparro consulted Williams - it's very likely that he struck a test version or a trial piece of the Type 2 Eisenhower dollar at the Philadelphia Mint - just to see if the new design would work properly. Another theory is that Mary Brooks (US Mint Director at the time) could have ordered the production of special promotional and presentation sets of the Type 2 dollar as well - 'No S' coins produced in Philadelphia. The coin could have been presented to a Congressman or high level official in Washington.
1776 1976 Silver Dollar E
This coin was actually discovered in 1977 at a department store called Woodward and Lathrup - located in the Washington DC area. It's possible that whoever had this coin (possibly a member of Congress?) spent it at the store assuming it was just a regular old Eisenhower dollar and didn't realize that this coin was actually a unique one-of-a-kind piece! The coin is now owned by Mitchell Spivack - Modern Coin Expert. He considers this coin to be the rarest and most special non-error modern US coin in history - especially considering that this coin also happens to commemorate the 200th anniversary of our nation.
There were two major varieties of the 1976 Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar - Type 1 (Type I) and Type 2 (Type II). Type 1 features bolder and thicker lettering on the reverse of the coin - also struck in a lower relief. Type 2 features sharper and narrower lettering on the reverse of the coin - struck in a higher relief. The difference between the 1976 Type 1 vs Type 2 Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar varieties is depicted below in the example comparison image. (All 1976 S Silver-Clad Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollars - except 1 - were of Type 1):
| Good (G-4) | Very Good (VG-8) | Fine (F-12) | Very Fine (VF-20) | Extremely Fine (EF-40) | About Uncirculated (AU-50) | Uncirculated (MS-60) | Uncirculated (MS-63) | Proof (PR-65) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
MELT VALUE: $8.6490
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1776 To 1976 Silver Dollar Value Kennedy
