`the "ike" Eisenhower Dollars Are Fantastic Keepsakes

By Author: Deborah Smith
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Everyone who has studied American History knows that President Dwight D. Eisenhower served the country in more ways than one even before he was awarded the top title of president during a landslide election . He ran for and won two terms which were among the golden years for America, with the one negative event being a recession from 1958 - 1959. His landmark achievements ended with him being ranked one of those top ten among the great American presidents. Many people mourned his death in 1969 as they also cheered the landing of the Apollo 11 lunar module on the moon, resulting with a commemorative coin, the Eisenhower dollar, minted in 1971.

The obverse or the face of the coin shows the profile of the 34th President of the United States which includes a mintmark under the President's neck, with the D showing it was minted in Denver or an S for San Francisco. You won't find any mintmarks on Eisenhower dollars struck in Philadelphia. Coins minted in 1971 have an "FG" on them instead, for the coin's designer, Frank Gasparro. The reverse, or the tail, changed according to the occasion of the time. Originally, the tail showed ...
... an eagle over the moon's surface clutching an olive branch with the world in the background, the insignia of the Apollo 11 Mission. This was altered somewhat in honor of the bicentennial, together with the moon and the Liberty Bell taking center stage. From 1971 to 1979, these coins were not widely circulated even if they were known for the first of those coins that were not minted using precious metals. Both these 1971 coins as well as the 1976 Bicentennial coins became mementos of the special years.

Collectors will be more prone to hunt down those special coins that were silver-clad. Although, these coins aren't created using pure silver but cut with copper then plated with 40% silver. They weren't made for circulation but were only proofs, or "Brown Ikes" or uncirculated or known as "Blue Ikes". These coins aren't especially valuable, and still have not gone beyond their face value of a single dollar. Although not widely circulated for the past several years, these can still be regarded as rather new coins. Although this will be a keepsake for nearly everybody, you will not find any other value on that coin.

The Eisenhower Dollars were issued to honor the former President and 5 Star General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The first coin released was the 1971 Eisenhower Dollar, which hold an important place for collectors.