Bill Jones' Type Set
$1 EISENHOWER, BICENTENNIAL, CLAD 1976


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: DOLLARS - EISENHOWER, PROOF
Item Description: $1 1776-1976 S T-2 CLAD
Grade: PCGS PF 69 UC
Owner: BillJones
 
Winning Set: Bill Jones' Type Set
Date Added: 3/4/2007
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

In October 1973 the United States Treasury Department announced that it would hold a contest redesign the quarter, half dollar and dollar to celebrate the Bicentennial era. The winner of the contest for the Dollar coin was Dennis T. Williams. Williams’ design featured the Liberty Bell superimposed over the moon. <br /><br />Although the Liberty Bell was hanging in the bell tower on the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed, it did not achieve its icon status until the Civil War. At that time abolitionists used the old bell, which had long since been cracked and rendered useless, as a symbol for their cause. The signature large crack was actually an area that workmen drilled out of the bell’s surface in a vain attempt to restore its tone. <br /><br />The moon was included in the design to celebrate the July 20, 1969 moon landing, which America’s most recent achievement at that time. The late 1960s and early to mid 1970s were a disconcerting time in America’s history. The Vietnam War, the Watergate Scandal, social unrest, lines at gas stations and a continuing period of economic “stagflation” (Inflation and a recession at the same time) had wrecked many American’s confidence. The moon landing was still a source of pride for many Americans during a time of continuing self doubt. <br /><br />The obverse of the coin was the standard portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1975 and ‘76, the coins carried the duel dates, 1776 – 1976. In 1977 the Treasury resumed the standard date and reverse. During those two years, the San Francisco mint issued just approximately 7 million Bicentennial clad Proof half dollars as a part of the standard Proof sets. There are two varieties found on the reverse. The “Type 1” coins have thick lettering and other design elements, which were later thought to be unattractive. Later pieces, the so-called “Type 2” coins have thinner lettering.

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