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HISTORY
The Eisenhower Dollar was minted from 1971 to 1978. The obverse honors President Dwight D. Eisenhower, while the reverse pays tribute to the first moon landing depicting the official Apollo 11 insignia. The design was the work of Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro. For such a short series, there are numerous varieties and types. Several different dies were used as they modified specific relief areas of the coin. The general business strikes are made of copper-nickel, but there are also some made with an outer layer of 80% silver.
In 1975, the mint began to make dollars for the Bicentennial of the United States. The date shows 1776-1976 on all Ike Dollars minted for 1975 and 1976; there are none dated 1975. There are two design types distinguished by the relief and the boldness of the lettering on the reverse. The modified Bicentennial reverse showing the Liberty Bell overlapping the moon was designed by Dennis R. Williams, who won a national contest run by the Treasury. In 1977, the coins resumed the original design.
MINTS
The main three mints now in operation were used for all issues from 1971 to 1978: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. In most years, the mintage was at least 50 million and as high as 200 million, however, in 1973, the total mintage was just over 10 million for business and proof strikes.
TERMINOLOGY
Ikes - Shorthand nomenclature for the Eisenhower Dollar.
Cameo - The distinction of the main device from the surrounding field. The stronger the contrast, the 'whiter' the device will appear.
Cupro-Nickel Clad - Typically referred to as the combination of copper and nickel, the two metals now used in the minting process of Dimes, Quarters, Halves, and Dollars. This began in 1965, except for Dollars, which began in 1971.
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES
Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection, by John Dannreuther
The Authoritative Reference on Eisenhower Dollars, by John Wexler, Bill Crawford, and Kevin Flynn
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Series
Eisenhower Dollars
Series Run
1971-1978
Designer
Frank Gasparro
Weight
silver issues
24.59 grams
copper-nickel issues
22.68 grams
Net Weight
silver issue only
.3161 ounces pure silver
Composition - silver
outer layers
.800 silver
.200 copper-nickel
inner core
.209 silver
.791 copper
Composition - Cupro-Nickel Clad
outer layers
.750 copper
.250 nickel
inner core
pure copper
Diameter
38.1 millimeters
Edge
Reeded Edge
Mints
Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
Mink Mark Location
above the date
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