The 1976 Eisenhower Dollar is a popular collector’s item due to its limited mintage and its special association with the American Bicentennial celebration of July 4, 1976. There were two different varieties released.
The first type, the Type I was made with a regular copper-nickel alloy and a low mintage of over 8 million. The second type, the Type II, was made with a clad silver alloy and had a mintage of only 6.5 million.
Both varieties are quite difficult to find in circulation and make for a great collectible item.
The 1976 Eisenhower Dollar is considered to be quite scarce, especially in uncirculated condition. This popularity is further driven by the fact that the U.S. Mint did not issue any Eisenhower Dollars at all in 1975.
Furthermore, in that same year, only three Eisenhower Dollars were minted in silver, making them incredibly rare pieces.
The 1976 Eisenhower Dollars, therefore, are both extremely sought-after pieces of American numismatic history. They are so highly coveted by collectors due to their low mintage, special association with the Bicentennial celebration and their scarcity in mint condition.
How do I know if my 1976 Eisenhower Dollar is silver?
Determining whether a 1976 Eisenhower Dollar is silver or not requires close examination of the coin. The best way to do this is to look at the edge of the coin and see if it has a silver-colored sheen.
For U.S. coins, silver is typically marked with a reeded edge. The color of the edge can be compared to the color of a known silver coin to get a better idea of whether the 1976 Eisenhower Dollar is silver or not.
In addition, you can use a magnet to check for silver; silver is not magnetic, while some other metals are. If the magnet does not stick to the coin, it may be silver. Finally, you can also use a magnifying glass to look at the information inscribed on the coin itself.
1976 Eisenhower Dollars made of silver will have the word “Silver” engraved on the obverse side, located between the lettering and the eagle. If “Silver” is inscribed on the coin, it is likely made of silver.
What is the difference between a Type 1 and Type 2 1976 Eisenhower Dollar?
The 1976 Eisenhower Dollar was available as a Bicentennial commemorative coin struck with two varieties of reverse designs. The Type 1 was a “coins without motto” design which features a two-thirds rear-facing image of the Liberty Bell superimposed on the Moon.
It also includes the inscription “1776-1976” above the Liberty Bell. The Type 2 was a “coins with motto” design which incorporates an eagle with an olive branch in its talons, with the inscription “E PLURIBUS UNUM” above it.
Both versions feature the inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” around the edge, along with the face value of “ONE DOLLAR”, and a bust of President Eisenhower on the obverse.
By far the more common version of the 1976 Eisenhower Dollar is the Type 2 “coins with motto” design, which was the only version released into circulation. The Type 1 “coins without motto” design was only available through a special uncirculated set issued through the Mint.
As such, the Type 1 version is more rare and valuable than the Type 2 version, making it highly desirable to collectors.
Which Eisenhower Dollar coins are valuable?
The Eisenhower Dollar coins that are most valuable are those that have been certified as being in mint condition by a professional coin grading service. These coins must have no signs of wear, and must be properly encapsulated in an approved holder.
Common coins in good condition still hold some value, though not as much. The most valuable Eisenhower Dollar coins include those minted in 1971 and 1972, the un-circulated Eisenhower Bicentennial coins from 1976, and the Eisenhower Presidential issues from 1973 to 1978.
The value of Eisenhower Dollars also depends on their condition, their strike (how well it was made), and their scarcer varieties such as proof and uncirculated coins. The value of a mint condition specific coin can range anywhere from a few dollars to thousands of dollars depending on how rare it is.
For example, a 1971-S uncirculated mint condition Eisenhower Dollar can fetch a price from $100 to more than $10,000. Finally, there are some coins which have error varieties that can make them worth more than their face value.
For example, a 1971 Ike Dollar with the word LIBERTY on the obverse side instead of the word IKE is considerably rare, and there are only a handful of them in existence, making them extremely valuable.
What is the most wanted Eisenhower Dollar?
The most sought-after Eisenhower Dollar is the 1972-S silver variety, struck at the San Francisco Mint for circulation. This coin was unique among the Eisenhower dollars in that it was the only regular-issue US coin ever minted with a 40% silver composition.
This coin has remained popular with collectors due to its low mintage of just 6.3 million pieces, making it the first “modern” US coin with a mintage of fewer than 10 million pieces. The low mintage has driven prices up to the point where uncirculated specimens sell for two to three times their face value and some varieties can fetch much higher prices.
