Eisenhower Dollars

In 1971 a new type of dollar appeared, no longer a silver dollar, except for certain issues made for collectors, but a clad metal dollar made of copper-nickel alloy. Bearing the visage of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, these dollars were produced from 1971 through 1978, with the exception of 1975. Surviving business strikes are apt to be rather unattractive in appearance, for like Franklin half dollars, Eisenhower dollars tend to nick and scar easily. However, there is no doubt that selected Uncirculated pieces can be attractive, and that Proofs can be gorgeous, that is if you find the basic design to be appealing (which not everyone does).

Budget Recommendations: Buy MS-63 or better coins. These are unattractive enough as it is (personal opinion here!), and are even less appealing in worn grades.

Recommendations for the Connoisseur: Acquire MS-65 business strikes and Proof-65 coins, as part of a date and mintmark set.

Elite Recommendations: Same as the preceding.

Anthony Dollars

Susan B. Anthony dollars minted from 1979 through 1981 were also produced in clad metal. When the government decided that a small dollar-size coin would be produced in order to save money (it was felt that a metal dollar would remain in circulation much longer than a paper dollar), Frank Gasparro, then chief engraver at the Mint, hoped that he would be allowed to create a classic design. He prepared sketches and models for Miss Liberty with a pole and cap behind her head, reminiscent of the Liberty Cap cent of 1793. However, politics intervened, and he was directed to prepare a design with the portrait of Miss Susan B. Anthony, which he subsequently did.

With great optimism, Anthony dollars were produced to the extent of hundreds of millions in the year 1979. It soon developed that these were a flop in circulation, as the public mistook them for quarters. Frank Gasparro could have told the Treasury Department about the mistaken identity problem, for he related in a conversation with me that he took one of the earliest pieces minted and endeavored to spend it in the employees' cafeteria at the Philadelphia Mint, where the cashier immediately mistook it for a quarter!