A Brief History of Eisenhower Dollar Coins
Eisenhower dollar coins were a series minted by the United States government from 1971 to 1978. They were named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. The coins were issued to commemorate Eisenhower's contributions to the nation.
The obverse (front) of the coin features a portrait of President Eisenhower, while the reverse (back) features an adaptation of the official Apollo 11 mission insignia, representing the United States' successful moon landing in 1969. The coins were made of a copper-nickel clad composition, which means they consisted of an inner layer of pure copper surrounded by outer layers of copper-nickel alloy. The coins have a diameter of 38.1 millimeters (1.5 inches) and weigh 22.68 grams (0.8 ounces). Eisenhower dollars were minted at three different locations: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D mint mark), and San Francisco (S mint mark). The mint mark can be found on the obverse side, near the base of Eisenhower's neck. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of America’s founding, the U.S. Mint issued special bicentennial issues of the quarter, half dollar and dollar. The Bicentennial dollar bears Frank Gasparro’s original obverse design with the dual date 1776-1976. A new reverse by Dennis R. Williams depicts the Liberty Bell superimposed over the moon, with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM at right. Encircling the design are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR. Both copper-nickel and silver clad issues were minted in 1975 and 1976. Special Eisenhower silver dollars were also minted from 1971 to 1976. These were struck at the San Francisco mint from 40% silver (80% in the outer layers and 20% in the core).
Initially, Eisenhower dollars were primarily intended for circulation, but they saw limited use in everyday transactions. Due to their large size and weight, they were not widely accepted in vending machines and were often used in casinos or as novelty items. The end of the series in 1978 marked the last regular-issue large-size dollar coin produced by the United States Mint as the smaller Susan B. Anthony dollar was introduced the next year.
While Eisenhower dollars were not widely circulated, they gained popularity among coin collectors. Several notable varieties exist. One of the most well-known is the 1972 - Type 2 variety, which features a different design on the reverse side with a smaller Earth. This variety is rarer and more valuable than the Type 1 version, which has a larger Earth. Additionally, there are some special mint mark varieties and proof coins issued for collectors.
At Profile Coins, we have several types of Eisenhower dollars for sale. Shop uncirculated Eisenhower dollars and Eisenhower Proof dollars by year and condition to find a great addition to your collection. Plus, every purchase is backed by our 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
