Eisenhower Dollar

The Eisenhower dollar, nicknamed the "Ike dollar," was the first U.S. dollar coin issued since the Peace dollar ended in 1935. Struck from 1971 to 1978, it honored the recently deceased President Dwight D. Eisenhower and, on its reverse, commemorated the Apollo 11 moon landing with an eagle descending onto the lunar surface.

Although large and heavy, the coin never circulated widely because Americans generally preferred paper dollars, but it remains popular with collectors for its size, its dual role as a presidential and space-program tribute, and its silver-clad special issues.

Congress authorized the dollar in 1970 to honor Eisenhower, who died in 1969, using a design by Frank Gasparro that paired Eisenhower's portrait with an adaptation of the Apollo 11 mission insignia. Most circulating pieces were struck in copper-nickel clad, while special collector versions from 1971 to 1976 were struck in 40% silver-clad composition and sold directly to collectors.

For the United States Bicentennial in 1975-1976, the reverse was temporarily changed to a Liberty Bell superimposed on the moon, designed by Dennis R. Williams, before reverting to the eagle-landing design for 1977-1978. The series ended in 1978, succeeded by the smaller Susan B. Anthony dollar in 1979.

The obverse shows a left-facing portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower with "LIBERTY" above and the date below. The standard reverse depicts an eagle landing on the moon, adapted from the Apollo 11 mission patch, with the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM"; bicentennial coins dated 1776-1976 instead show a Liberty Bell over the moon.

At 38.1 mm in diameter, it is the largest U.S. dollar coin of the modern era. Circulating strikes are copper-nickel clad (outer layers of 75% copper/25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core), while special collector editions are 40% silver-clad, identifiable by a slightly different color and weight, typically found in original Mint packaging.

Mint marks (D for Denver, S for San Francisco, none for Philadelphia) appear on the obverse below Eisenhower's neck truncation.

Common-date Eisenhower dollars in circulated grades trade for little more than face value or a small premium, while the 40% silver "Blue Ike" (uncirculated) and "Brown Ike" (proof) issues sold to collectors carry modest premiums tied largely to their silver content. Certain varieties, such as particular 1972 and 1976 reverse die types, are scarcer and more valuable in top grades.

Choice and gem uncirculated examples of ordinary dates are affordable, generally in the tens of dollars, while high-grade proof and silver editions with strong cameo contrast can bring somewhat more.