The United States Mint also struck limited numbers of 40% silver Eisenhower dollars for collectors and copper-nickel proofs. A large share of these dollar coins were used in Nevada casinos.Ĭirculating issues were made from copper-nickel clad.
While Ike dollars were struck for general circulation, the large-size dollar coin measuring 38.1 millimeters wide and weighing at least 22.68 grams was unpopular with many Americans - and it did not commonly appear in pocket change. The reverse (tails side) depicts the mission insignia for Apollo 11, the NASA spacecraft that took the first men to the Moon in 1969. Eisenhower, who was a five-star World War II army general and served as the nation’s 34th president from 1953 through 1961. Ike dollars were struck from 1971 through 1978 - and the relatively short-lived series serving as America’s last circulating large-size dollar coin saw a lot of cool varieties and errors.Įisenhower dollars feature an obverse (heads side) portrait of Dwight D. There certainly are plenty out there to look for! Eisenhower Dollar Coin Facts