1972 Eisenhower Dollar

There are a handful of coins in our nation's history that never became popular circulating issues. The 20 Cent Piece is perhaps the most obvious candidate, but all late 20th Century efforts to issue a circulating dollar are soundly on this last. As time passes, however, coins unpopular in circulation gain favor with collectors. The Eisenhower Dollar is such a coin, now receiving considerable attention with collectors.

The Eisenhower Dollar came about to commemorate the former President Eisenhower, best known as a World War II hero and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, and also for his role fostering the creation of NASA while President in 1958. After his death in 1969, Congressman Bob Casey of Texas proposed a coin that would commemorate both Eisenhower and the then recent Moon Landing.

Designed by Frank Gasparro, the obverse of the coin depicted the bust of the late President and the reverse featured an eagle landing on the moon, clasping an olive branch (an adaptation of the Apollo 11 insignia). The Bank Holding Act, signed into law by President Nixon in 1971, allowed for the Ike Dollar to be struck. Production and release began that year.

While the Eisenhower Dollar is a short-lived eight year coin series, there are a total of over thirty different issues to entice the collector when all the various dates, mint marks, metal compositions, and major varieties are tallied. The key of the series is the 1972 silver dollar Type 2. In 1972, the Philadelphia mint produced three distantly different hub varieties for the Eisenhower Dollar.

1972 Eisenhower Dollar types:

The low relief reverse type features the Earth with three islands falling to the right of Florida. In addition, the Earth is flat from 8 o'clock to 11 o'clock and the eagle's breast feathers are raised and distinct.

The "Proof" reverse has a completely different and unique appearance. The Earth has been flattened with little relief on North and South America. Instead of islands, incuse water lines hint at their appearance. The eagle's feathers are noticeably smooth.

The "normal" reverse shows a higher relief than the Type 1. This change is attributed the use of a new more resilient die steel. The Type 3 can be distinguished by the islands falling directly below Florida. Like the Type 2, the eagle's breast feathers are smooth.

Of the three types, Type 2 is the scarcest. NGC has graded 89 examples of the Type 2 1972 Eisenhower Silver Dollars, ranging from EF 45 to MS65. A Type 2 graded MS65 trades for a couple thousand dollars. By contrast, the Type 1 and Type 3 coins each trade for at least couple hundred dollars in MS65, with the Type 1 being slightly higher in value. The price differences illustrate the demand and scarcity of this coin. NGC now attributes the type on all 1972 Eisenhower Dollar coins submitted for grading, and no VarietyPlus service fee is required.

The Type 2 1972 silver dollar is now a recognized key among modern coin enthusiasts, and as such it's a particularly deserving issue to be featured as our Modern Coin of the Month.

Want to know how much is a 1972 Eisenhow Dollar worth? See the coin's value on NGC Price Guide.