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The Eisenhower Dollar was issued from 1971 to 1978. The obverse of the coin features Dwight D. Eisenhower and the reverse is based on the Apollo 11 mission insignia. For circulation, the coins were struck in copper-nickel clad composition, although “silver dollars” were also produced and issued for collectors. Despite the short duration of the series, the different compositions, varieties, and conditional rarities provide complexity and challenge for collectors.
The production of dollar coins had entered a lengthy hiatus after the final Peace Dollars were struck in 1935. By this time, the required production under the Pittman Act had been completed and abundant supplies were stockpiled which would last for decades. The denomination almost made a come back in 1964 when Congress authorized the production of new silver dollars, however, the entire quantity produced was recalled and melted before issuance. In the following year, the Coinage Act of 1965 would eliminate the silver content from circulating US coins and forbid the minting of silver dollars for a period of five years.
Following the conclusion of the five year period, the first legislation to create a new dollar coin was introduced in October 1969. The legislation sought to create a circulating dollar coin which would commemorate Dwight D. Eisenhower who had died earlier that year and the Apollo 11 space flight, which marked man’s first steps on the moon. A modified bill was eventually passed on December 31, 1970.
The Chief Engraver for the United States Mint Frank Gasparro designed both the obverse and the reverse of the coin. The obverse bore a profile bust of Eisenhower with inscriptions “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, and the date. To prepare the design, Gasparro studied 30 pictures of the former President and Five Star General as well as a drawing he had made in 1945 after catching a glimpse of Eisenhower at a parade in 1945.
The reverse of the coin was based on the mission insignia from the Apollo 11 space flight. This was deemed particularly appropriate by Congress since the space program began under Eisenhower’s administration. The reverse design featured a bald eagle landing on the surface of the moon, carrying an olive branch, with the Earth visible in the background from space.
The 1976 Eisenhower Dollar featured a new reverse design issued to celebrate bicentennial of the American Revolution. The redesign of the denomination was authorized by Congress, along with the requirement that coins issued between July 4, 1975 and January 1, 1977 should carry the date “1776-1976? rather than the date of mintage.
A national contest was held to solicit Bicentennial coinage designs from the public. There were 884 entries received with bicentennial designs for the dollar, half dollar, and quarter. The winning entry for the Eisenhower Dollar was submitted by Dennis R. Williams, who at the time of selection was a 22 year old student majoring in sculpture. He was awarded $5,000 for his design featuring the Liberty Bell extending over the moon.
The 1976 Eisenhower Dollars are found with two distinct varieties, identifiable by the style of lettering on the reverse of the coin. Type 1 coins use bold, block lettering, while Type 2 coins use thinner, more delicate lettering. The first type was produced primarily during 1975 and the second type during 1976. Among circulation strikes, the Type 1 variety is more difficult to find in higher grade, particularly for the Philadelphia issue.
The San Francisco Mint also produced coins featuring the Bicentennial design. Authorization was provided to strike up to 45 million dollar coins in a composition of 40% silver. Proof and uncirculated versions of the Washington Quarter, Kennedy Half Dollar, and Eisenhower Dollar were produced and sold to collectors in 3 coin silver uncirculated or proof sets. Orders were accepted by the US Mint starting November 15, 1974, with shipment beginning after July 4, 1975.
Clad composition proof Eisenhower Dollars were also struck at the San Francisco Mint. These coins were included in the 1975 and 1976 Proof Sets. The former sets contain the Type 1 variety and the latter sets contain the Type 2 variety coins.