Dollar · 1971–1978

Eisenhower Dollar

A left-facing portrait of President Dwight D. Eisenhower with LIBERTY above and the date below. An eagle landing on the Moon holding an olive branch, adapted from the Apollo 11 mission insignia (the 1776-1976 Bicentennial coins show the Liberty Bell against the Moon instead).

Designer

Frank Gasparro (Bicentennial reverse by Dennis R. Williams)

Diameter

38.1 mm

Edge

Reeded

Mint mark

Obverse (front), below Eisenhower's neck, above the date

Composition

1971–1978: Copper-nickel clad (circulation coins) · 22.68 g

1971–1976: 40% silver clad (collector S-mint versions) · 24.59 g Silver

Did you know? The Ike dollar honors both Eisenhower and the Apollo 11 Moon landing on one coin — the eagle on the back is literally landing on the Moon.

Beginner tip: Brown-box and blue-pack Ikes with an S mint mark are 40% silver, while everything you'd find in change is ordinary clad — so check the mint mark before assuming any Ike is just a dollar.

Key dates to look for

1973 Ike Dollar

$12+

Sold only in Mint sets, never released to circulation

1973-D Ike Dollar

$12+

Mint sets only, same as the 1973 Philadelphia

1971-S Ike Dollar

$12+

First-year 40% silver collector issue in blue packs and brown boxes

Valuable varieties & errors

1972 Type 2 Reverse

rare

$40 – $2,000+

Philadelphia used three different reverse hub designs in 1972. The Type 2 came from a proof hub mistakenly put into regular production for a short time, making it the scarcest and most valuable of the three.

How to check: Look at the Earth above the eagle on the back. On the Type 2, there are no small islands below and left of Florida — the Caribbean is smooth, and Florida looks like a vague line pointing southeast. Types 1 and 3 show distinct raised islands there.

1971-D 'Friendly Eagle'

scarce

$15 – $600+

An early Denver reverse die pairing used a distinct design with a gentler-looking eagle and a differently shaped Earth. Collectors nicknamed it the Friendly Eagle, and it's recognized by the major grading services.

How to check: Compare the eagle's head on the back with a normal Ike: the Friendly Eagle lacks the heavy brow line over the eye, giving it a softer expression. Also check the Earth — it's rounder, with a clearly defined Gulf of Mexico area.

1776-1976 Type 1 vs Type 2 Lettering

common

$2 – $100+

Bicentennial Ikes come with two reverse lettering styles: Type 1 has thick, low-relief block letters, while Type 2 has thinner, sharper letters. Both are common, but collectors like completing the pair, and Type 1 is scarcer in top uncirculated grades.

How to check: Look at UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the back. Type 1 letters are bold and blocky with flat tops; Type 2 letters are noticeably thinner and more delicate. Comparing side-by-side photos makes the difference click instantly.

Error types found on this series

Doubled Die (Obverse)

The front design shows a second, shifted image because the die itself was made doubled.

Missing Clad Layer

A dime, quarter, or half is missing its outer silver-colored layer on one side, exposing the copper core.

Off-Center Strike

The blank wasn't centered when struck, so part of the design is missing and part of the coin is blank.

Clipped Planchet

A bite-shaped piece of the coin is missing because the blank was punched from an already-punched part of the metal strip.

Real photos where available (credits); others are illustrations.

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