BoneHeads Collection of Proof Eisenhower Dollars
Private
Updated:
9/1/2022
Views: 1,782
The legislative journey for the Eisenhower Dollar began on October 25, 1969. Congressman Bob Casey of Texas proposed an amendment, to the House Banking Bill, that would create a one-dollar coin commemorating both Dwight David Eisenhower and the Landing on the Moon.
Late November 1970, Mary Brooks, the Director of the US Mint, anticipating the passage of the bill, directed the Chief Engraver of the Mint, Frank Gasparro, to design the obverse and reverse of a one-dollar coin that would commemorate Eisenhower and the Moon-Landing.
Frank Gasparro began this task on the Thanksgiving Weekend of 1970 and produced the working coin dies by January 2, 1971. Eisenhower was a hero he admired for many years. Frank Gasparro used the sketches he made from a 1945 Eisenhower victory parade as the basis for the obverse design of the coin. For the reverse, he used the Apollo XI insignia as the allegorical representation of the moon landing. Astronaut Michael Cooper was the original designer of The Apollo XI insignia.
President Nixon signed the Bill into law on December 31, 1970. This bill authorized the Treasury to mint Copper-Nickel Clad dollars for general circulation and also authorized the Treasury to mint not more than 150 million 40% Silver-Clad dollars for collectors. The first release for the 40% Silver-Clad Proof Dollar was on March 31, 1971.
The Bicentennial Issue (1975 and 1976) has a different reverse design. Dennis R. Williams won an open competition for his rendition of the Liberty Bell superimposed on the moon. The obverse of the Bicentennial Dollar remained the same with the exception of the dual date 1776-1976. The 1976 S 40% Silver Clad Proof Dollar is part of a three-piece set which includes a 40% Silver Clad Proof Quarter and a 40% Silver Clad Proof Half-Dollar. This three-piece set is packaged into a small Blue Folder with die cut spaces for the three encapsulated 40% Silver Proof Coins. This folder is inserted into a white styro-foam sleeve. This Bicentennial Three Piece Proof 40% Silver Clad Issue was made in 1975 and 1976.
All Silver-Clad Proof Dollars were minted at the San Francisco Mint. These 40% Silver Clad Proof Dollars are individually packaged in a plastic container similar to those GSA dollars. This case is inserted into a Brown Wood-Grained Cardboard sleeve container. These Silver Proofs were minted from 1971 to 1974.
Specifications of the Copper-Nickel Clad Eisenhower Dollar: WHT:22.68grams. DIA: 38.10mm. EDGE: Reeded. ALLOY: Outer-Layers of 75% Copper, 25%Nickel. Bonded to an inner core of pure copper.
Specifications of the 40% Silver Clad Eisenhower Dollar: WHT: 24.59grams. DIA: 38.10mm. EDGE: Reeded. Outer-Layers of 80% Silver, 20%Copper. Bonded to an inner core of 79% Copper, 21% Silver. Total Silver WHT: .3161oz.
The Copper-Nickel Clad Proof dollar was first minted in 1973. This was the first year the Ike Proof dollar was added to the Proof Set and remained a part of the Proof Sets thru 1978. No Proof Dollars were added to the 1971 and 1972 Proof Sets.
This collection has its share of varieties. These varieties were caused by several factors: Design enhancements; Design changes; Lettering modifications and Improvements in the steel alloy that was used to make the dies. Three different reverse dies were used to manufacture the Ike Dollar in the years of 1971 thru 1974, 1977 and 1978: They are called the Type 1 Low Relief Die, Type 2 High Relief Die and the Type 3 Improved High Relief Die. The Bicentennial Issue has two varieties. The 1975 (Variety 1) issue has a low relief design with bold lettering on the reverse. The 1976 (Variety 2) issue has a sharp design with delicate lettering on the reverse. Additional “variety” information is provided in the "Coin Description Section" for each listed coin.
The Eisenhower Dollar was minted for eight years (1971-1978). Prior to this Ike Dollar, the last new dollar was minted in 1935. Since then, the public grew fond of the Paper Dollar and never accepted the bulky and heavy Ike dollar. The Ike Dollar was terminated for the new small size Susan B. Anthony Dollar that saw the same fate a few years later (1979-1981, 1999).
The Proof Planchet starts out like any other planchet. From this point onward, these selected planchets are highly cleaned and polished, this cleaning and polishing process may take over twenty-four hours to complete. The coin dies are also hand selected for perfection and are cleaned and polished to remove any foreign material and metal burrs.
The polished Proof Planchets are hand fed into the coining chamber and each planchet will receive two or more high-pressured strikes in order to bring up the sharp high relief details of the coin. The coin dies will be wiped clean or polished after about a dozen strikes or more. The proof coin will be removed from the coining chamber by the operator using gloves and/or tongs. Each coin will be individually inspected and placed into a special plastic case. This entire process is done at a very slow pace to insure care and perfection.
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BoneHeads Collection of Proof Eisenhower Dollars
By BoneHead
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