Eisenhower Dollars Value In Today’s Market

The Eisenhower dollars value has remained constant throughout the course of time, solidifying its standing as a coveted gem in the world of numismatics. Minted from 1971 to 1978, their worth often surpasses their face value. Crafted with a generous amount of silver, copper, and nickel, Eisenhower dollars have made their way to several numismatics collections.

The designs of all Eisenhower dollars are more or less the same. The 1971 Eisenhower dollar coin’s obverse section carries the left-facing portrait of President Eisenhower. We see the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” below the President’s chin. The word “LIBERTY” is written on the top, between the President’s head and the coin’s rim. The bottom of the coin bears its mint date.

You can find the mintmarks (if present) above the last two date digits. While the Philadelphia coins carry no mintmarks, the Denver and San Fransisco coins bear the mintmarks “D” and “S” respectively.

The center of the coin’s reverse section shows a bald eagle descending, with an olive branch in its talons.

Below the eagle lies a lunar surface, signifying the Apollo 11 mission. We can see planet Earth above the eagle, with North America clearly visible. Thirteen five-point stars surround the eagle, signifying the first thirteen states gaining independence.

Between the eagle and the ring of stars, we see the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Adjacent to the coin’s upper rim are the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Adjacent to the coin’s upper rim are the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” The coin’s denomination is visible around its bottom.

The 1971 Eisenhower dollar value can range from $1 to over $12,000, depending on its composition, design, rarity, and historical significance.

Let’s have a better look at the coins’ value with a table:

Differences between the three variants lie in their reverse sections, where you can see the Caribbean islands, North America, and Central America. 1972 Eisenhower dollar type I shows the three islands off the Florida coast.

Type II of this coin is the rarest and, therefore, carries the highest 1972 Eisenhower dollar value in the category. This is because the US Mint struck this variant using a reverse die intended for the proof version. With a higher relief feature, this coin shows Florida as a single triangular funnel and the Caribbean islands as a single large land mass.

The islands on the type III variant are distinguishable. Here, the island on the upper left goes past the western edge of Florida. This US Mint finalized this design and used it for subsequent Eisenhower dollars.

As of July 2024, the 1972 Eisenhower dollar value for type I ranges from $3.38 to $4,000 (across Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints). The type II coins boast the highest value, ranging from $74 to a whopping $10,800. The third variant (type III) carries a value ranging from $2.15 to $1,500. All these rates are for MS (Mint State) coins.

In 1973, the Mint decided to waive the striking of any more coins for circulation purposes. Instead, it minted two million coins from each mint just to include them in the US annual Mint Set.

As opposed to their precursors, the 1973 Eisenhower dollar coins were struck using dies of 52100 die steel. This made the coins sharply struck, giving them a higher definition.

After the circulation slump of 1973, 1974 marked the resurgence of Eisenhower dollar circulation. The US Mint anticipated high demand for these coins after 1973, leading to the production of over 27 million and over 45 million coins by the Philadelphia and Denver Mints respectively.

On the other hand, the San Fransisco Mint produced only 1.3 million coins. Such rarity increased the silver-clad 1974 Eisenhower dollar value.

As of July 2024, the Mint State 1974 Eisenhower dollar value for a Philadelphia coin ranges from $2.15 to $11,500. The value of a 1974-D $1 MS stays between $2.15 and $2,500. The silver-clad MS 1974-S is currently valued between $10.13 and $8,750.

During 1975 and 1976, the US Mint issued special edition Eisenhower dollars known as Bicentennial coins. As the name suggests, these coins were minted to commemorate the 200th independence anniversary of the United States of America. This is why a 1976 Eisenhower dollar includes two dates – 1976 and 1776.

While a lot of these coins were also minted in 1975, the Government kept the same date on all coins to prevent hoarding. The design on the coins’ obverse section was changed to honor the American Bicentennial.

There was also a change on the coins’ reverse, where the Liberty Bell overlapping the moon replaced the Apollo 11 depiction. The right of the bell clapper shows the initials of the new 22-year-old designer, Dennis R. Williams. On the coin’s top, you can see “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” with two stars.

The American Eagle landing on the moon for the Apollo 11 mission returned with the 1977 Eisenhower dollar. Moreover, the US added another feather to its cap in 1977 with the launch of the Voyager 1 and 2.

While the new set of coins was not suitable for circulation, the Philadelphia Mint produced over 12.5 million coins out of which more than two million coins were kept in the annual Mint Set.

The Denver and San Fransisco Mints produced a little over 32.9 and over 3.2 million coins respectively.

This is the last set of Eisenhower dollars before the Susan B. Anthony dollars were struck and circulated. With 38.1 mm in diameter, the Eisenhower dollars were of the same size as the silver dollars the US Mint struck until 1935.

By 1976, concrete talks and decisions about rethinking the American coinage were underway. This was when the Research Triangle Institute suggested the introduction of “more convenient-sized” dollar coins.

For one last time, the US Mint produced a little over 25.7 million coins in Philadelphia, over 33 million coins in Denver, and over 3.1 million coins in San Fransisco.