Eisenhower Dollar Value: Silver, Bicentennial & Complete Price Chart

The last of the large circulating dollars, struck 1971–1978, was designed by Frank Gasparro. Two families matter for price: standard copper-nickel clad pieces meant for circulation and the 40% silver issues sold to collectors out of San Francisco. 

Eisenhower dollar coins value changes with composition, grade, strike, and a couple of famous varieties. To know exactly what you are holding, download the coin identifier app for free, and it will tell you right away the coin, its type, and it even guesses the price.

Quick ID — Silver vs. Clad, Mints, Dates

Eisenhower dollars came in two main compositions. The copper-nickel clad coins were struck for circulation between 1971 and 1978 at the Philadelphia (no mintmark) and Denver (D) Mints. 

Collectors, however, could purchase special 40% silver issues minted only at San Francisco (S) from 1971 to 1974, and again for the 1976 Bicentennial. These were sold in two finishes: uncirculated coins packaged in blue envelopes (nicknamed “Blue Ikes”) and Proofs in brown boxes (“Brown Ikes”).

The mintmark appears just below Eisenhower’s neck on the front of the coin. Coins without a mark came from Philadelphia, while a D or S was struck in Denver and San Francisco.

You won’t find a 1975 dollar. During that time, the Mint prepared for the nation’s Bicentennial, so all coins from 1975–1976 carry the dual date 1776–1976.

If you’re checking composition, the weight and edge help. Regular clad coins weigh about 22.68 grams and show a distinct copper-colored stripe along the edge. The 40% silver versions are heavier at 24.59 grams and have a mostly grayish-silver edge without a bright copper band.

Standard issues have an eagle landing on the Moon; this coin was released in 1971, inspired by the Apollo 11 mission. Bicentennial dollars, struck for the nation’s 200th birthday, replace that with the Liberty Bell superimposed over the Moon, tying America’s independence to its space-age achievements.

Mini Specs Table

Complete Eisenhower Dollar Value Chart (1971–1978)

Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar Value (1776–1976)

How to Tell Them Apart

• The Type 1 and Type 2 Bicentennial reverses are the first giveaway: check the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. On Type 1, the letters are thick and heavy; on Type 2, they’re thinner and sharply defined

• Weight helps too. The 40% silver coins weigh around 24.59 grams, while the standard copper-nickel clad versions come in lighter at 22.68 grams. Flip the coin on its side: silver issues show a uniform gray edge, while clad coins reveal a clear copper stripe running through the rim

• Most Bicentennial Ikes you’ll find in pocket change are clad and worth only face value. Uncirculated rolls carry a small premium, but high-end pieces are where real value appears. Certified MS-66 or higher Type 1Ы, and Deep Cameo proofs draw serious interest from collectors

At the top of the pyramid is the 1976 No-S Proof, a legendary rarity with just one known example. It’s far beyond everyday collecting.

Eisenhower Silver Dollar Value & Melt

They feel heavier, denser, colder to the touch. Their value begins with the metal inside. Each 40% silver Ike: that’s 1971-S, 1972-S, 1973-S, 1974-S, and 1976-S, contains 0.3161 troy ounces of pure silver.

Do the math: if silver trades at $26 an ounce, the melt value sits around $8.22. If the spot price climbs to $30, the floor rises to roughly $9.48. 

But collectors rarely stop at the metal Eisenhower one dollar coin value. Strike, finish, and packaging (“Blue” Uncirculated vs “Brown” Proof) decide the price:

Key Varieties & What Moves Price

1972-P “Three Earths”

Philadelphia used three reverse hubs in 1972. They’re easiest to spot on the globe behind the eagle.

• Type 1: Caribbean islands look mushy; most common

• Type 2: Earth shows Florida clean and detached; scarce; strong premiums in MS grades (four figures at MS-66)

• Type 3: Sharper islands; replaced Type 2 mid-year

Bicentennial Lettering (Type 1 vs Type 2)

• Type 1: bold, blocky letters on E PLURIBUS UNUM; earlier strikes

• Type 2: thin, refined letters; later production; usually better strikes

Both are collectible; high-grade Type 1s bring the bigger jump.

• “Blue” & “Brown” Ikes

• Blue Ike = 40 % silver uncirculated coin in blue U.S. Mint envelope

• Brown Ike = 40 % silver proof coin in faux-wood box

Condition and cameo depth drive the value of Eisenhower dollar, not the packaging alone.

Errors & Oddities

Not common, but worth checking:

• Off-center strikes (planchet not seated)

• Missing clad layer (copper core showing)

• Broadstrikes / partial collars

• Doubled dies (look for doubled letters on LIBERTY)

Real premiums only with certified confirmation (PCGS/NGC). Cleaning kills Eisenhower centennial silver dollar value faster than any mint error adds to it.

Fast ID & Authentication

Obverse design:

Mintmark

• No letter → Philadelphia (clad only)

• D → Denver (clad)

• S → San Francisco (silver Unc/Proof and clad proofs)

Weight test

• Clad ≈ 22.68 g

• 40 % silver ≈ 24.59 g

Edge color

• Clad shows a copper stripe

• Silver reads solid gray with a faint layering

Reverse design:

• Regular years (1971-74, 77-78): Apollo 11 eagle landing on the Moon

• Bicentennial (1776-1976): Liberty Bell over the Moon

Anything else is a token, medal, or foreign copy

When in doubt, weigh it, read the edge, and check for an “S.” If Eisenhower half dollar value looks serious, send it to PCGS or NGC for grading and authentication.

Final Thoughts

Eisenhower dollars bridge two eras, old-school heft and modern mint tech. Most are affordable learning pieces; a few, like the 1972-P Type 2 or No-S Proof, headline auctions. Weigh yours, check the mintmark, match it to the chart, and if it looks exceptional, have it graded. Even a $2 Ike can teach you more than its price tag.

FAQs

Related Coin Value Guides

• 1926 Lincoln Penny Coin Value
• 1916 Wheat Penny Coin Value
• 1921 Lincoln Penny Coin Value
• 1984 Nickel Coin Value
• 1928 Buffalo Nickel Coin Value
• Coin Grading from G to MS-70