U.S. Eisenhower Silver Dollar (1971-1974) // Mint State Condition // Icons of American Coinage Series // Deluxe Display Box

The Eisenhower Silver Dollar is a vintage American coin minted from 1971 to 1978. Today, they are seldom seen in circulation but are cherished by coin collectors and enthusiasts of American history alike. Offered here is a pleasant example of the 40% silver variety originally issued for collectors that has been hand-selected by professional numismatists after screening thousands of coins for quality and eye-appeal. Each coin is housed in an airtight capsule and presented in a plush-lined box with display easel, magnetic lid, and certificate of authenticity. The coin is unconditionally guaranteed to be genuine, dated between 1971 and 1974, and will match the quality of the one shown.

The Eisenhower dollar was produced from 1971 to 1978 and was the first dollar coin issued by the U.S. Mint since the Peace dollar series ended in 1935. In October of 1969, Congressman Bob Casey of Texas introduced a bill calling for a circulating commemorative dollar to honor both President Eisenhower, who had recently died, and the Apollo XI space flight, mankind’s first moon landing. Due to rising bullion prices, silver had been eliminated from the dime and quarter in 1965, and reduced to 40% in the half dollar, with plans to remove silver entirely from circulating coins in 1971. It was decided that the Eisenhower dollar would be struck in both copper-nickel for circulation and 40% silver as a collectible, to be sold at a premium.

The design of Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro features a bare-headed, left-facing profile of the late president on the obverse. The reverse depicts the American eagle descending onto the moon clutching an olive branch of peace in its talons. The distant Earth is visible in the sky above. For the nation’s bicentennial in 1976, a special reverse depicting the Liberty Bell superimposed on the moon, linking the past and the present, was issued. All coins featured the dual date of 1776-1976. Although the silver pieces sold well and were coveted by collectors, the new copper-nickel dollars failed to circulate extensively, and the series was short lived.

By 1978, demand for the large, clunky dollar coins diminished, and Congress replaced the Eisenhower dollar with the smaller-sized Susan B. Anthony dollar in 1979, which also failed to circulate. The Eisenhower dollar would ultimately go down in history as the last large-sized dollar coin issued for circulation in the United States, marking the end of a two century-old tradition.