Collecting the Eisenhower Dollar Coin Series

By: Michael Zielinski

The long absent one dollar United States coin returned with the Eisenhower Dollar series. The last dollar coin had been produced more than 30 years prior. While the series was only a short eight years in duration, it offers coin collectors numerous highlight such as 40% silver coins and a special Bicentennial issue.

Before the Eisenhower Dollar, the Peace Dollar was minted from 1921 to 1935. In 1965, the silver content was removed from most circulating United States coins. This seemed to seal the fate of the silver dollar. However, five years later the idea began to emerge to create a new dollar coin honoring Dwight D. Eisenhower and the moon landing. The former president had passed away the same year as the historic space flight that brought man to the moon. Authorizing legislation for the new dollar coin was finally passed in 1970. It called for the production of large sized dollar coins, as well as coins struck for collectors with 40% silver content.

The front of the Eisenhower Dollar coin features a portrait of the former President prepared by the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint Frank Gasparro. Eisenhower is shown in profile with the inscriptions "Liberty," "In God We Trust," and the date. The mint mark of the coin appears just above the date.

The Eisenhower Dollar's reverse is based on the insignia used for the Apollo 11 space flight. It pictures a Bald Eagle landing on the moon. An olive branch is clutched with the Eagle's talons. The earth appears in the background and thirteen stars encircle the design. The inscriptions read "United States of America," "E Pluribus Unum," and the denomination "One Dollar."

In 1976, the reverse was redesigned to celebrate America's Bicentennial. The new reverse was designed by Robert R. Williams. It featured a rendition of the Liberty Bell with the Moon in the background. It was a fitting way to acknowledge the original design while creating a new one to celebrate America's 200th anniversary. The original reverse design was resumed in 1977.

Throughout most of the Eisenhower series, special coins were produced for collectors. This included so-called "Blue Ikes" which were produced from 1971 to 1974. These coins were struck in 40% silver at the San Francisco Mint and sold to collectors in distinctive blue packaging. "Brown Ikes" were also offered to collectors. These were 40% silver proof versions of the coin also produced at the San Francisco Mint. The coins came in Brown packaging. During the Bicentennial year, 40% silver versions of the Eisenhower Dollar were also produced and sold directly to collectors as part of a three coin set containing silver versions of the quarter dollar, half dollar, and dollar coins.

Eisenhower Dollar coins produced from 1971 to 1978. During this short time, coins were minted at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.

Although the series was very brief, due to the many collector's version offered, a complete set will comprise 32 different coins. In recent years the series has gained some popularity, especially after the return of the dollar coin with the new Sacagawea Dollar and Presidential Dollar coin series.

Author Resource:-> Michael Zielinski is an internet entrepreneur and coin collector. Find more information on Eisenhower Dollars or further your interest in coins by joining the new coin collecting social network.

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