Eisenhower Dollar

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Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar Reverse

Apollo 11 Insignia

The Eisenhower Dollar is a dollar coin issued by the United States government from 1971–1978 (not to be confused with the Eisenhower commemorative dollar of 1990.) The Eisenhower Dollar followed the Peace Dollar and is named for General and President Dwight David Eisenhower, who appears on the obverse. Both the obverse and the reverse of the coin were designed by Frank Gasparro.

Contents

1 Specifications
2 Composition
3 History
4 Mints
5 Bicentennial Dollar
6 Silver Issues
7 Missing Ikes?
8 References
9 External links

Specifications

Obverse design: General/President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Reverse design: The Apollo 11 Mission Insignia
Bicentennial reverse designer: Dennis Williams
Bicentennial reverse design: The Liberty Bell and the Moon
Edge: reeded
Diameter: 38.1 mm

Composition

The Eisenhower Dollar was struck with a copper-nickel composition for circulation and was the first United States dollar coin to not be struck in a precious metal, although special collectors' issues were struck at the San Francisco Mint in a silver-copper composition.

Copper-nickel issues:

Weight: 22.68 grams
Composition: Outer Layers of 75% copper, 25% nickel with a center layer of 100% copper

Silver-copper issues (silver clad):

Weight: 24.59 grams
Composition: Outer layers of 80% silver with a center of 20.9% silver. Aggregate 60% copper, 40% silver
Silver content: 0.3164 troy ounce (9.841 grams)

History

The Eisenhower Dollar was struck to celebrate Dwight D. Eisenhower, who died in 1969, and the Apollo 11 moon landing of the same year. It was minted for only a seven year period. The coins were often saved as mementos of Eisenhower but never saw much circulation outside of casinos. Special Bicentennial issues were minted in 1975 and 1976.

Mints

Mintmarks appear above the third and fourth numbers in the date under Eisenhower's neck. Mintmarks include:

None (Philadelphia Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
D (Denver Mint in Denver, Colorado)
S (San Francisco Mint in San Francisco, California)

Bicentennial Dollar

Special reverses were added to all quarter dollar, half dollar, and dollar coins minted in 1975 and 1976 to celebrate the bicentennial of America's independence. In addition, the date was shown as 1776-1976 for the quarters, half dollars, and dollars minted in 1975 and 1976. The reverse of the Eisenhower Dollar was designed by Dennis Williams and shows the Liberty Bell in front of the moon.

Silver Issues

Some Eisenhower Dollars were minted in a silver clad to be sold to collectors. All of these coins were minted at the San Francisco Mint in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1976. These coins were either uncirculated or proof. Uncirculated coins came in cellophane with a blue plastic token in a blue envelope. Proof issues came in a proof set-like plastic case in a fancy brown wood colored box with a gold seal on back. The uncirculated coins are referred to as 'Blue Ikes' and the proofs as 'Brown Ikes'. Coins minted in 1975 and 1976 for the Bicentennial come with the quarter and the half dollar of that year. The uncirculated coins were sold by the Mint for three dollars; the proof version for ten dollars. Two varieties of the dollar were produced in 1976 and can be distinguished by the thickness of the lettering.

Missing Ikes?

Eisenhower Dollars did not appear in the 1971 and 1972 mint and proof sets. This is often a disappointment to collectors. To get mint coins in these dates, one must find either a Blue or Brown Ike (see Silver Issues).

References

Yeoman, R.S. A Guide Book of United States Coins Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2004
Edler, Joel and Harper, Dave U.S. Coin Digest Iola: Krause Publications, 2004

External links

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