The new one-dollar coin would be the same diameter and approximately the same thickness as previous minted silver dollars, but the composition would be a copper-nickel clad base metal composition that is dictated by the Coinage Act of July 23, 1965. Mint engraver Frank Gasparro represented this historic event on the reverse by adapting the Apollo XI insignia from NASA. It was President Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower who authorized the creation of NASA in 1958. Because of his involvement with NASA, the Treasury Department chose Eisenhower for the obverse of the coin. The United States Mint saw an opportunity to market these new coins to collectors. In addition to producing regular business strike coins for circulation, the mint seized on the opportunity to also produce various special strikes and compositions for collectors. From 1971 through 1976, the mint produced special 40% silver composition Proof coins for collectors. These Proof coins were housed in hard plastic holders and placed in special brown boxes and are commonly referred to as “Brown Ikes.” The mint also produced special uncirculated strikes in the 40% silver composition. They were distributed in blue envelopes with the coin being held in a soft plastic package. These are known as “Blue Ikes”. In 1973, the Treasury Department began a contest to select the design to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War on the quarter, half dollar and one-dollar coins. The Treasury Department chose Dennis R. Williams’ reverse design on March 6, 1974, that superimposes the Liberty Bell on top of the moon for the reverse of the dollar coin. The United States Mint did not make any dollar coins dated 1975 since the production of the dual-dated (1776-1976) bicentennial coinage began in 1975 to meet the public’s demand for these new circulating commemorative coins.
Coin Values and Prices
At one time, coin collectors frowned upon collecting Eisenhower dollars. The coins never circulated well with the public, the design was drab, and the coins never struck up well. Beginning in the mid-to-late 2000’s, the popularity of collecting the last of the big United States dollars began to catch on. Coin experts began to find varieties, and the values for Eisenhower dollars began to rise. Detailed Specifications
