The "Peace" dollar (silver dollar) coin ended production after the 1935 issues. However, in 1962 when a sealed vault at the Philadelphia Mint was opened, hundreds of thousands of Silver dollars were discovered, including some rare issues which were paid out freely till gone. The Coinage Act of July 23, 1965, required that no silver dollars be struck for five years, when the need for them could be reevaluated. That "need" became apparent when the Nevada gambling casinos began using dollar-size tokens at their casinos. Customers, however, preferred dollar coins.

The death of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 5 Star General and two-term U.S. President (about the same time as the 8-day historic lunar landing by the Apollo XI crew) prompted a House bill that proposed commemorating both events with a dollar coin. Following a year of debate the new "Ike" dollars were approved.

Vital Stats.

Eagle Reverse (1971 - 1974) (1977 - 1978)

No "I View" Grading

Type 1 (1971 - 1974) (1977 - 1978)
Copper Nickel Clad

On December 31, 1970, a bill creating the Eisenhower dollar was passed providing for a circulating dollar coin made from the "clad" alloy being used at that time for dimes and quarters (also for half dollars starting in 1971).

Type 2 (1971 - 1974)
40% Silver

This bill also permitted up to 150 million silver clad coins for sale to collectors with two outer layers that were 80% silver and 20% copper bonded to an inner core that was approximately 21% silver and 79% copper. This was the same alloy used for halves dated 1965-70 and rendered a 40% silver coin.

Vital Stats.

Type 3 (1975 - 1976)
Nickel Clad Bicentennial Dollar

The United States bicentennial was celebrated in 1976, two hundred years after the signing of the U.S. Declariation of Independence. As part of the celebration, three special "Bicentennial coins" were struck as special commemorative coins, they were the quarter dollar, half dollar and the dollar. Bicentennial dollar coins have the dual date 1776-1976 at the bottom, the dates separated by a centered dot.

Prior to the nation's impending Bicentennial a competition for a Bicentennial design to grace the reverses of the quarter, half and dollar, was held. Dennis R. Williams won the design for the dollar's reverse. His visionary design of the Liberty Bell superimposed on the moon provided a link between past and present.

Regular coinage dated 1974 ended in the middle of 1975, when the new Bicentennial d esigns dated 1776-1976 went into production: no dollars were produced dated 1975. These Bicentennial pieces were released in the fall of 1975, and their mintage continued through the following year.

Type 4 (1975 - 1976)
40% Silver Bicentennial Dollar