Eisenhower Dollar

Eisenhower Dollar. The United States Mint introduced the Eisenhower Dollar in 1971 to honor the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who played a crucial role in World War II as the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. The coin was designed by Frank Gasparro, the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, and features a portrait of Eisenhower on the obverse, while the reverse depicts an image of the Apollo 11 mission's Eagle lunar module landing on the Moon. The Eisenhower Dollar was minted from 1971 to 1978, with a total of over 290 million coins produced, including special editions for the American Numismatic Association and the Federal Reserve.

● Introduction

The Eisenhower Dollar was authorized by the Coinage Act of 1965, which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and was intended to replace the Silver Certificate notes that were being phased out by the Federal Reserve System. The coin was designed to be a circulating commemorative coin, with a unique design that would honor the legacy of Eisenhower and the Apollo 11 mission, which was a major achievement of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under the leadership of Wernher von Braun and Neil Armstrong. The Eisenhower Dollar was also minted in special editions for the Bicentennial celebrations in 1976, which featured a unique reverse design depicting the Liberty Bell and the Moon, and was also used in the American Numismatic Association's annual convention in New York City.

● Design

The design of the Eisenhower Dollar features a portrait of Eisenhower on the obverse, which was based on a bust of the former President created by Sylvester Stallone's friend, R. Tait McKenzie, and was also influenced by the work of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who designed the Double Eagle coin. The reverse design, which depicts the Eagle lunar module landing on the Moon, was inspired by the Apollo 11 mission and features an image of the Earth rising over the Moon's horizon, which was also used in the United States Postal Service's commemorative stamp for the Apollo 11 mission. The coin's design was also influenced by the work of Gilroy Roberts, who designed the Kennedy Half Dollar, and Adolph A. Weinman, who designed the Walking Liberty Half Dollar.

● Minting_and_Collection

The Eisenhower Dollar was minted from 1971 to 1978, with a total of over 290 million coins produced, including special editions for the American Numismatic Association and the Federal Reserve. The coin was minted at the Philadelphia Mint, Denver Mint, and San Francisco Mint, and features a unique mint mark for each mint, which was also used in the Morgan Dollar and the Peace Dollar. The Eisenhower Dollar was also used in the United States Mint's annual Proof Set, which featured a special edition of the coin with a unique finish, and was also used in the American Numismatic Association's annual convention in Chicago.

● Varieties_and_Errors

There are several varieties and errors of the Eisenhower Dollar, including the 1972 Type 1 and Type 2 coins, which feature a unique reverse design, and the 1976 Bicentennial coin, which features a unique reverse design depicting the Liberty Bell and the Moon. The coin also features several errors, including the 1971-S Silver Eisenhower Dollar, which was minted with a silver clad composition, and the 1972 Doubled Die Obverse, which features a unique obverse design. The Eisenhower Dollar was also used in the United States Mint's annual Error Coin set, which featured a special edition of the coin with a unique error, and was also used in the American Numismatic Association's annual convention in Los Angeles.

● Legacy_and_Cultural_Significance

The Eisenhower Dollar has a significant legacy and cultural significance, as it was the first coin to feature a President who was also a Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II. The coin was also used in the United States Mint's annual Commemorative Coin program, which featured a special edition of the coin with a unique design, and was also used in the American Numismatic Association's annual convention in Boston. The Eisenhower Dollar has also been featured in several Numismatic exhibitions, including the American Numismatic Society's annual exhibition in New York City, and has been used in the United States Postal Service's commemorative stamp for the Apollo 11 mission. The coin's design has also been influenced by the work of Felix Schlag, who designed the Washington Quarter, and James Earle Fraser, who designed the Buffalo Nickel.

Category:Coins of the United States