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BCW Large Dollar Flips 100 Ct. Premium Cardboard Coin Holders Flips for Pre-1979 Silver Dollars; 100 Pack of 2x2 Pre-1978, White 4.7 out of 5 stars 269 $5.21 $ 5. Authorized by the Liberty Coin Act signed by President Ronald Reagan on July 9, 1985, the first American Silver Eagle was released on November 24, 1986, and became an overnight sensation. The 1921 Dollar set the tone for the rest of the series, which will go down as one of the most popular in history. The obverse features the profile of Lady Liberty while the reverse depicts the majestic image of a perched American eagle with an olive branch in its talons as a symbol of peace.

1. Old Silver Dollars Value Chart
2. Liberty Silver Dollar 1978
3. Liberty Silver Dollar 1922
4. Liberty Silver Dollar 2010

This coin honors a pioneer in the woman's rights movement. On October 10, 1978, legislation provided for the issuance of the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin. Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, Frank Gasparro, designed both the obverse and the reverse.

Like Ike? Plenty of coin collectors do! A growing number of numismatists are building sets of Eisenhower dollars.

Read below for a full list of Eisenhower dollar prices.

The Eisenhower dollar was struck from 1971 through 1978 and was intended for regular commerce. Ultimately it failed to see the light of day as a circulating coin beyond the casinos of Las Vegas.

Few people knew back in the 1970s that the Eisenhower dollar would be the last circulating large-size dollar coin in the United States.

Today, it's become one of the top modern collectible coins, and for good reason. Ike dollars constitute a relatively short series with many unusual varieties to collect.

What Are Eisenhower Dollars Worth?

Eisenhower dollars appeal to collectors on a variety of budgets. Many pieces challenge even financially well-heeled collectors. Prices for some key date Ike dollars reach into the thousands of dollars.

Nonetheless, the majority of Eisenhower dollars are much more affordable to obtain. What follows is an Eisenhower dollar price guide. The values reflect examples in MS-63 (uncirculated) and Proof-65 grades.

Eisenhower Dollar Price Chart

All the values listed above represent typical specimens. These have regular surface quality for their respective grades and conditions.

Better pieces command significantly higher premiums than the prices listed above. This is due to the difficulty of locating Eisenhower dollars (mainly clad business strikes) with few marks.

How the Eisenhower Dollar Was Created

United States Mint Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro created the coin's design. The first Eisenhower dollars were struck in 1971.

Cupro-nickel clad versions were produced at the Philadelphia and Denver Mint for circulation. Meanwhile, 40% silver examples were made in San Francisco as proofs for collectors.

Copper-nickel S-mint proofs didn't come around until 1973. This was the first year that regular uncirculated sets and proof sets included the Eisenhower dollar.

In 1975, the U.S. Mint began producing special commemorative circulating Eisenhower dollars honoring the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

These Bicentennial dollars showcase a dual-dating feature declaring 1776–1976 on the obverse. The reverse design by Dennis Williams features the Liberty Bell superimposed on the Moon.

The standard Eisenhower dollar reverse and obverse dating resumed in 1977. Yet the end was in sight for the coin in 1978.

The public deemed the Eisenhower dollar too large. Americans were unwilling to carry large numbers of the heavy dollar coins during a period of runaway inflation.

40% Silver Eisenhower Dollar

The large dollar coin had failed to circulate well and was thus retired before 1979. This was when the Susan B. Anthony dollar, also designed by Gasparro, entered circulation.

However, the Susan B. Anthony dollar never caught on with the public, either. It was retired shortly after that in 1981. It returned for a one-year stint a general later in 1999 before being put out to numismatic pasture for good.

Collecting Eisenhower Dollars

The vast majority of hobbyists who collect Eisenhower dollars aim to complete a 32-coin set. It consists of all the regular-issue business-strike and proof coins. This includes the 40% silver Ikes dated 1971-S, 1972-S, 1973-S, 1974-S, and 1976-S.

Tricky Ikes: Only a small percentage of the total Eisenhower dollar mintage is 40% silver. Image source: Reddit user rddt1983

Such a set can be completed with coins in typical uncirculated and proof grades for less than $500. That includes the 40% silver key dates mentioned above.

Collectors with deeper pockets will add a much more expensive dimension to their Ike dollar objectives. They often pursue each of the regular-issue clad coins in Gem grades. They target proofs that grade Proof-67 or higher. Many will also seek the abundance of scarce varieties known for this series.

Surprisingly, clad business strikes in grades of MS-65 to MS-66 or better are among the most valuable Eisenhower dollars. There are few such Ikes that grade MS-68 or better.

The United States Mint took little care in handling or transporting these large, heavy circulating dollar coins. Understanding this, it becomes clearer why clad Ikes in Gem condition are so tough to locate. Most of the rarest Gem examples trade for more than $1,000 today.

Old Silver Dollars Value Chart

Eisenhower Proofs

Top-end proofs are not nearly as rare as their high-grade clad business-strike counterparts. They are tough to find with full cameo frosting, however. The 40% silver Ikes are among the easiest examples to find in grades of Proof-69 or Proof-70.

Meanwhile, deep cameo contrast is most common on the 1977-S and 1978-S Eisenhower dollars. This originated from a period when deep cameo frosting was becoming more the norm rather than the exception for U.S. proof coinage.

1972 Eisenhower Variety

Image: USA CoinBook

The Eisenhower dollar boasts a wide array of varieties. Those who collect design varieties have plenty to love.

The most popular varieties are found among 1972 Ikes. It showcases at least three different versions of planet Earth on the reverse design.

• Type I is a relatively low-relief variety showing three islands to the right of Florida.

• Type II, the scarcest of these three varieties, shows no islands below Florida. (Water lines are in their place instead.)

• Type III shows three islands below and to the left of Florida.

Clearly, there are some geography issues at hand with these varieties. They keep collectors busy!

Several other exciting oddities are out there. This includes various doubled dies and the rare 1974-D and 1977-D 40% silver transitional wrong-metal strikes.

There are numerous avenues in the Eisenhower dollar series that one can take. So many collectors have devoted their entire numismatic careers just to the Eisenhower dollar.

These modern clad coins offer a multitude of rewarding opportunities for collecting, research, and discovery—enough to satisfy even the most passionate of dedicated collectors for a lifetime!

Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez is a journalist, editor, and blogger who has won multiple awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild. He has also authored numerous books, including works profiling the history of the United States Mint and United States coinage.

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US Silver Dollars

You may already know that silver dollars are a collector’s item and a prudent investment, but what you might not know is the pivotal role the silver dollar has played in the history of the American monetary system. American currency essentially began with the silver dollar, which further enhances its appeal to investors and collectors alike. Here, you’ll find a synopsis of the history of silver currency in the U.S., as well as an in-depth description of two of the most significant silver-dollar designs — Morgan and Peace Dollars.

The History of Silver Currency in the U.S.

During the American Revolution, Congress printed millions in “Continentals,” or the currency of the Continental Congress. In theory, the states would exchange this paper currency for silver or gold once the war ended. The problem was that the British government began printing counterfeit Continentals to purchase supplies from Americans, and confidence in the currency quickly plummeted to the point that it became worthless.

At this time, Americans had already accepted the Spanish dollar as the primary unit of value in the market. This dollar was known as a Spanish peso, the abbreviation for which (S and P superimposed) eventually lead to the “$” symbol for the dollar sign. The silver coin minted by the Spanish in the 1700s was worth eight “reals” of Spanish gold, and merchants would cut the dollar into eight pieces, known as “bits,” to make change. Congress officially adopted the Spanish milled dollar as the U.S. unit of value in 1785, a decision codified in 1792 by the Coinage Act.

Liberty Silver Dollar 1978

The Coinage Act

The Coinage Act created the U.S. Mint, which coined silver dollars and gold coins. From 1794 to 1935, the treasury coined about 900 million silver dollars. The silver dollars coined had 46 grains of silver, the standard set by the Spanish dollar. The treasury also coined half dollars, quarters, dimes, and half dimes, all of which had proportionate quantities of silver. The worth of gold eagles was also determined relative to silver, with each gold eagle worth ten silver dollars.

The End of Silver Currency

The U.S. continued using silver for its coinage until 1965. In the early sixties, President Nixon announced that the U.S. would no longer redeem currency for silver or gold, which was the death knell of the silver standard. Then, in 1965, President Johnson permitted the treasury to issue debased “sandwich” quarters and dimes that had negligible inherent value, and the amount of silver in the half-dollar dropped to 40 percent.

The Morgan Silver Dollar Design

Produced from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921, the Morgan Dollar was the result of the mining lobby pressuring the treasury to coin all silver it purchased into silver dollars. This practice continued until the depletion of the silver reserve in 1904. Consisting of 90 percent silver, the Morgan Dollar bears the name of its designer, George T. Morgan, an Englishman who moved to the U.S. and became Assistant Engraver for the Mint in 1876. Morgan went on to become Chief Engraver in 1917.

The coin features an eagle with its wings spread and the inscription “In God We Trust” above its head. The other side of the coin features Lady Liberty in profile view wearing a coronet with the word “Liberty” on it. Thanks to its beautiful design and value, as well as its historical significance, the coin is highly sought after even today.

The Peace Dollar Design

Liberty Silver Dollar 1922

Minted from 1921 to 1928 and 1934 to 1935, the Peace Dollar was issued to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I. The coin was the result of a contest to come up with designs symbolic of peace. Italian sculptor Anthony de Francisci designed the coin, which features Lady Liberty on one side and an eagle holding an olive branch with the legend “peace” on the other. Francisci immigrated to the U.S. when he was 18 and entered the competition against seven other sculptors, all older than he. He used his wife, Mary Teresa, as the model for Lady Liberty on the coin.

Liberty Silver Dollar 2010

The production of the peace dollar ceased for six years in the late 1920s due to the depression and resumed for only two years thereafter. Like the Morgan Dollar, the history, rarity, and 90 percent silver composition of the Peace Dollar make it a popular item with collectors.

In addition to their historical significance and aesthetic appeal, silver dollars can make for solid investments in silver because of their high composition of the white metal. Whether you want to enhance your collection or your investment portfolio, visit Silver.com to view the best selection of silver dollars today.