The Eisenhower dollar combines a presidential portrait, an Apollo 11-inspired eagle, clad and silver-clad formats, and the Bicentennial redesign.
The catalog covers 1971–1978 circulation, collector, proof, and silver-clad issues. The smaller Susan B. Anthony dollar begins a separate series in 1979.
Core specifications
- Issue period
- 1971–1978
- Catalog mints
- 3
- Reported catalog mintage
- 719,343,775
- Composition
- 91.67% Copper - 8.33% Nickel
- Diameter
- 38.1 mm
- Weight
- 22.68 g
A memorial dollar meets the space age
Congress paired Dwight D. Eisenhower with an eagle landing on the Moon, adapting the Apollo 11 mission insignia for a large modern dollar.
Circulation coins used copper-nickel clad construction, while selected collector issues used 40-percent silver cladding. A special dual-dated reverse marked the national Bicentennial.
Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type
Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.
The main portrait and date
Frank Gasparro's left-facing portrait of Eisenhower fills the broad obverse, with LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date around it.
Denomination, subject, and mint mark
The regular reverse shows an eagle landing on the Moon; the Bicentennial type replaces it with Dennis R. Williams's Liberty Bell over the Moon.
Where the cataloged coins were made
Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.
- D — Denver: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978; 367,826,105. Confirm the D mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
- P — Philadelphia: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978; 312,709,057. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.
- S — San Francisco: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978; 38,808,613. Confirm the S mint mark together with its expected year, position, and issue format.
Representative issues that explain the series
A compact type set can compare clad, silver-clad, regular reverse, and Bicentennial reverse before moving into detailed reverse types.
- 1971 S - Silver Clad — 6,868,530. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1976 P - 40% Silver - Type 2 - No "S" - Unique — 1. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1978 D — 33,012,890. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
Start with the major type, then study smaller die differences
The current catalog records 2 varieties. A variety name describes repeatable die features; it does not automatically mean error, rarity, or added value.
The issue catalog keeps all 2 modeled varieties attached to their parent issue records.
Issue catalog
From one type coin to a complete catalog
- One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
- Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
- Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.
- Variety study: Choose one date or diagnostic family and record several matching markers for every attribution.
A note on catalog records
This page uses 29 issue records, 2 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.
Sources
- Description of the New Eisenhower Dollar — United States Mint
- Dollar Coins and Their History — United States Mint
- Ike Dollar category reference — PCGS CoinFacts