1976 Silver Dollar Coin Value: Errors List, “D”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

1976 Silver Dollar value ranges from $1.00 face value to $25,300. That record was set by a Grade 70 example sold through Heritage Auctions in July 2011. If you’re wondering what yours is worth, upload a photo of your coin below for a quick value range. You can also scroll down to check recent eBay sales and see what people are paying right now.

 

1976 Dollar Value By Variety

Here’s what each variety is trading for right now. If you already know your coin’s grade, jump to the Value Guides section for exact prices.

Also Read: Eisenhower Dollar Value (1971-1978)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1976 Dollar Worth Money

The king of the hill is a 1976-S Clad Type 1 PR70 that brought $25,300 at Heritage Auctions in July 2011. Only a handful of coins have ever been graded that high, and registry set collectors went to war over it. The 1976-S Clad Type 2 in the same PR70 grade isn’t far behind at $22,550.

The Philadelphia 1976 Type 1 in MS66 hit $7,638 at Heritage, while the Denver Type 1 holds an all-time record of $14,375 from the Lucien M. LaRiviere Collection sale at Bowers & Merena in May 2001. Type 1 coins consistently outprice Type 2 at comparable grades because far fewer were made.

 

History of The 1976 Dollar

Plans for Bicentennial coinage started back in 1966 when Congress set up the American Revolutionary Bicentennial Commission. Mint Director Mary Brooks initially wanted nothing to do with changing coin designs for the anniversary. By late 1972, she’d done a complete 180 and became one of the project’s biggest champions.

On October 18, 1973, President Nixon signed the bill authorizing temporary redesigns for the quarter, half dollar, and dollar. The design competition opened five days later, and by December nearly 900 entries had poured in across the three denominations.

Dennis R. Williams won the dollar contest. He was 22 years old—a sculpture student at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio. Here’s the fun part: his winning design started as a class assignment from his college instructor. Each winner took home a $5,000 prize.

Mint Director Mary Brooks unveiled the new designs on NBC’s Today show on March 7, 1974. All Bicentennial coins carried the dual date “1776-1976,” making them the first U.S. circulating coins to ever show two dates.

Production kicked off in February 1975. No coins were struck with a single 1975 date. The West Point Mint helped Philadelphia handle the massive volume—total clad business strike mintage hit 220.6 million—though West Point coins carry no “W” mint mark. The Bicentennial reverse was retired in 1977 when the original Apollo 11 motif returned.

Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Silver Dollar Coins Worth Money (Most Expensive)

 

Is Your 1976 Dollar Rare?

Check your 1976 dollar’s rarity with the Coin Identifier and Value App — it identifies mint marks, type varieties, and values instantly through photo recognition.

 

Key Features of The 1976 Dollar

Knowing what to look for on your coin helps you spot fakes and figure out exactly which variety you have. The Bicentennial dollar mixed familiar Eisenhower elements with a one-year-only commemorative reverse.

The Obverse Of The 1976 Dollar

Frank Gasparro’s left-facing portrait of President Eisenhower carries over from the original 1971 design. Gasparro actually sketched Ike from life at a post-WWII parade, which gives the portrait a lifelike quality you don’t always see on coins. “LIBERTY” arches along the top, and “IN GOD WE TRUST” sits below Eisenhower’s chin.

Look below the portrait for the dual date “1776-1976” separated by a centered dot—a first for U.S. circulating coins. The mint mark sits just below Eisenhower’s neck. You’ll see a “D” for Denver, an “S” for San Francisco, or nothing at all for Philadelphia. Gasparro’s initials “FG” appear on the neck truncation.

The Reverse Of The 1976 Dollar

Flip it over and you’ll see Dennis R. Williams’ Liberty Bell superimposed against the moon. At 22, Williams became the youngest person in U.S. history to have a design on circulating coinage. The bell dominates the center with the cratered lunar surface behind it—a nice visual link between America’s founding and the space program.

“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” arches across the top, “ONE DOLLAR” curves along the bottom, and two small stars separate them. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” appears to the right of the bell. Look below the bell’s bottom edge for Williams’ initials “DRW.”

Other Features Of The 1976 Dollar

The coin measures 38.50 millimeters across—full traditional silver dollar size. The reeded edge (those parallel grooves around the rim) dates back centuries as a way to prevent clipping. Here’s a quick trick: look at the edge. Clad coins show a copper stripe running through the center. Silver coins have a uniform gray edge with no copper visible.

Two compositions were produced. Circulation strikes and clad proofs used outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core, weighing 22.70 grams.

The San Francisco collector versions contained 40% silver—outer layers of 80% silver and 20% copper over a core of 79% copper and 21% silver—weighing 24.60 grams. These came in two classic packages: uncirculated “Blue Ikes” in blue paper envelopes, and proof “Brown Ikes” in brown cardboard wood-grain presentation boxes.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Morgan Silver Dollar Coins Worth Money List

 

1976 Dollar Mintage & Survival Data

The Type 1 vs. Type 2 gap is enormous. Philadelphia struck over 113 million Type 2 coins but only about 4 million Type 1. Denver followed a similar pattern, with Type 2 outnumbering Type 1 roughly four to one.

Survival rates across most varieties sit between 97% and 99%—people saved these by the roll. Denver Type 2 coins hit nearly 100% survival. That tells you just how many Bicentennial dollars went straight into drawers and never saw a cash register.

The silver proof story is different. Out of 4 million struck, only 3.06 million survive—a 76.5% survival rate. The missing coins almost certainly got melted during the early 1980s silver boom, when even the U.S. Mint itself melted millions of unsold silver Bicentennial pieces.

Also Read: Top 40+ Most Valuable Presidential Dollar Coins Worth Money

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1976 Dollar Value

You need three things to nail down your coin’s value: the mint mark below Eisenhower’s neck, the reverse lettering style (Type 1 vs. Type 2), and the edge color (silver or clad). Condition matters a lot—even common varieties jump in price when they’re pristine.

The Coin Identifier and Value App streamlines this process through instant photo recognition, providing accurate grade analysis and real-time market valuations in seconds.

 

1976 Dollar Value Guides

Eleven distinct varieties exist for the 1976 Bicentennial dollar. Each trades at different levels depending on composition, mint, and proof designation.

Circulation strikes (copper-nickel clad):

• 1976 Type 1 Dollar — Bold lettering, lower relief, Philadelphia mint; scarcer variety
• 1976 Type 2 Dollar — Refined lettering, higher relief; the most common variety
• 1976 D Type 1 Dollar — Denver issue; only 21 million struck; scarce at MS66+
• 1976 D Type 2 Dollar — Denver issue; 82 million struck; widely available

Collector silver uncirculated:

• 1976 S Silver Dollar — 40% silver content; sold as “Blue Ike” in blue envelopes

Proof varieties (San Francisco only):

• 1976 S Clad Type 1 CAM Dollar — Clad proof with frosted devices against mirrored fields (Cameo = CAM)
• 1976 S Clad Type 1 DCAM Dollar — Clad proof with sharp black-and-white contrast (Deep Cameo = DCAM)
• 1976 S Clad Type 2 CAM Dollar — Refined lettering clad proof, cameo finish
• 1976 S Clad Type 2 DCAM Dollar — Refined lettering clad proof, deep cameo
• 1976 S Silver CAM Dollar — Silver proof, moderate cameo contrast
• 1976 S Silver DCAM Dollar — Silver proof, exceptional deep cameo contrast

Grade makes all the difference. Common circulated pieces trade near face value. Pristine examples in MS67 or PR70 can hit four or five figures. Type 1 coins carry higher premiums than Type 2 at comparable grades because the mintage is so much lower.

 

1976 Type 1 Dollar Value

Only about 4 million of these left Philadelphia. That makes the Type 1 the original, pre-correction design—and genuinely scarce. The Mint discovered that clad planchets weren’t striking up cleanly with the bold Type 1 lettering. Silver was softer and struck fine, so Gasparro redesigned the lettering into the sharper Type 2 to fix the problem on clad coins.

MS65 examples hover around $120. Jump one grade to MS66 and you’re looking at roughly $1,900—a sixteen-fold increase. Bag marks are the culprit. These big, heavy coins beat each other up during shipment. One outstanding MS66 brought $7,638 at Heritage Auctions on October 8, 2014.

That MS65-to-MS66 gap is where cherrypicking pays off. Each grade increment gets exponentially harder to find.

Complete auction records for this variety document realized prices across all grade levels.

Recent market activity tracks this coin’s performance throughout the past year.

Market activity score: 73/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 23 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 78 (Sep 2026).

 

1976 Type 2 Dollar Value

Think 113 million coins means they’re all worthless? Not so fast. Philadelphia pumped out Type 2 dollars at nearly 30 times the rate of Type 1, so yes—lower grades are everywhere. You can find raw uncirculated examples for a couple bucks at any coin show.

But that abundance vanishes at gem level. An MS67+ specimen sold for $10,800 at Heritage Auctions on January 14, 2024. A more recent MS67+ brought $7,200 at Heritage in May 2025. The coin’s 38.5mm diameter meant almost none escaped the mint without bag marks, turning a 100-million-mintage coin into a conditional rarity at the top.

All silver Bicentennial dollars are Type 1 only—the Type 2 die was never used on silver planchets, since silver struck cleanly from the start.

Comprehensive auction archives capture this variety’s performance across all grades and sale venues.

Market trends from recent months illustrate its ongoing appeal among collectors.

Market activity score: 56/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 3 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 70 (Dec 2025).

 

1976-D Type 1 Dollar Value

Here’s a number that should get your attention: PCGS has certified only 13 examples at MS67, with none finer. Denver struck 21 million of these—that’s fewer than one per million surviving in top-pop condition.

MS65 examples trade modestly at $32–55. But at MS67, you’re in a completely different kind of rare. The all-time record is $14,375, set at the Lucien M. LaRiviere Collection sale through Bowers & Merena in May 2001. A more recent sale hit $9,600 at Stack’s Bowers in November 2020. Registry set builders drive these prices because the supply is essentially fixed at 13 coins.

The scarcity at MS67 isn’t gradual. It’s a cliff. Once you cross that threshold, availability collapses and you’re competing for condition census coins.

The auction data tracks this issue’s realized prices across the grading spectrum.

Here is a chart showing the market performance of this Denver type.

Market activity score: 56/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 3 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 66 (Dec 2025).

 

1976-D Type 2 Dollar Value

If you’re building an Eisenhower set on a budget, this is your starting point. Denver struck 82 million Type 2 coins—nearly four times the Type 1 run. Circulated examples trade near face value, and uncirculated pieces stay affordable through MS65.

MS66 specimens run about $70. MS67 examples reach $800–3,600. A May 2025 Heritage auction recorded an MS67+ at $7,200. Compare that to the $14,375 record for the Denver Type 1 and you see the value play: you get premium condition at a fraction of the cost.

I think this variety is underappreciated. The abundance through MS65 doesn’t diminish what it takes to find one in MS67. That’s still a tough coin.

The coin’s historical auction results illustrate its performance and value trends in the collector market.

The chart below shows market trends helping collectors identify optimal timing for acquisitions or sales.

Market activity score: 58/100 as of Oct 2026 — unchanged since Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 76 (Nov 2025).

 

1976-S Silver Dollar Value

These are the “Blue Ikes”—sold in distinctive blue paper envelopes and handled with care from the moment they were struck. Unlike the clad coins banging around in mint bags, San Francisco produced these 40% silver pieces exclusively for collectors. Every single one is Type 1. The Type 2 die was never used on silver planchets.

That careful handling shows in the grading populations, but perfection is still genuinely elusive. An MS69 brought $20,800 on eBay in March 2023. Heritage followed with $18,600 for another MS69 in July 2023. Thousands have been slabbed by PCGS, but only a tiny percentage earn MS67 or higher.

Each coin contains roughly 0.316 troy ounces of pure silver, so you’ve got melt value as a floor plus serious numismatic upside at the top grades. Registry set competition keeps pushing MS69 prices higher.

The table below lists all recorded auction results for the 1976-S Silver dollar.

The chart below highlights collector interest and market trends during the last twelve months.

Market activity score: 61/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 3 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 69 (Nov 2025).

 

1976-S Clad Type 1 CAM Dollar Value

Most people skip right past CAM proofs and go for Deep Cameo. That’s exactly why these are interesting. San Francisco’s clad proof production overwhelmingly resulted in DCAM finishes, leaving only a small number with the lesser Cameo designation. CAM proofs show frosted devices against mirrored fields, but without that intense black-and-white snap that defines DCAM.

PCGS has certified just one PR70 CAM. Most examples fall between PR67 and PR69, trading at $14–24. Despite that genuine rarity, market preference for Deep Cameo keeps CAM prices low: a PR68 CAM brought only $276 at Heritage in 2005. Visual appeal beats population numbers in the proof world.

If you’re assembling a complete proof designation set, though, you need these. They’re essential and persistently undervalued relative to how few exist.

Auction archives spanning multiple decades track CAM transactions from routine dealer trades to specialized registry set competitions.

The past year’s market data reveals whether collector demand has remained steady or shifted with broader market conditions.

Market activity score: 53/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 3 points from Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1976-S Clad Type 1 DCAM Dollar Value

A PR69 trades for $20–32. A PR70 starts at $2,520. That’s not a typo. One specimen hit $25,300 at Heritage Auctions—the highest recorded price for any 1976 dollar variety. Welcome to registry set economics.

Deep Cameo Type 1 proofs are the standard San Francisco finish, so PR69 examples are plentiful and liquid. Great entry point for new collectors. But PR70 is a permanently capped population. You can’t upgrade a PR69 into a PR70—you either have one or you don’t. That forces competition among a tiny group of registry competitors chasing the same few coins.

The result is a huge gap: routine transactions at PR69 for everyone else, and an isolated bidding war for perfection.

Below is a summary of this coin’s historical auction results for reference.

Here is an overview of market activity illustrating the level of collector engagement with the issue.

Market activity score: 56/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 1 point from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 58 (Aug 2026).

 

1976-S Clad Type 2 CAM Dollar Value

PCGS has never certified a PR70 for this variety. That means PR69 isn’t a stepping stone—it’s the ceiling. Period.

A PR67 CAM brought $1,035 at Goldberg Auctioneers in May 2006. Compare that to Type 1 CAM’s PR68 record of just $276. The premium reflects a double squeeze: limited Cameo production plus a permanently capped top grade. With no path to PR70, demand piles into the PR67–PR69 range.

For collectors building comprehensive Bicentennial proof sets, this is the toughest box to check. We think it’s one of the most overlooked varieties in the entire series.

The table below summarizes key past sales for a clear view of its price trajectory.

Displayed here is a snapshot of market activity that highlights the popularity of the clad type 2 issue.

Market activity score: 53/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 3 points from Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1976-S Clad Type 2 DCAM Dollar Value

Type 2’s thinner lettering with delicate serifs pairs beautifully with the Deep Cameo finish. The sharper letter edges create crisp contrast boundaries that really pop compared to Type 1’s broader forms. If you’re a proof collector who cares about visual impact, this is the one.

Great Collections sold a PR70 DCAM for $22,550 in November 2014, back when population data was still thin. As more coins got slabbed and the known PR70 census grew, prices settled into a $1,380–$3,120 range over the last three years. That’s a textbook example of early scarcity premiums correcting as real population data comes in.

Auction records chronicle this variety’s transition from early discovery to established valuation.

Recent market patterns reveal how collector demand shifts across different quality tiers throughout the year.

Market activity score: 53/100 as of Oct 2026 — unchanged since Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1976-S Silver CAM Dollar Value

Here’s something that’ll make you scratch your head: a PR68 CAM sold for $1,265 at American Numismatic Rarities in June 2006, while a PR69 CAM—one grade higher—only brought $431 the year before. Lower grade, higher price. That happens when extreme population scarcity in a specific grade slot outweighs the usual grade hierarchy.

These 40% silver proofs contain 0.316 troy ounces of pure silver, so melt value puts a floor under even the lowest-grade examples. Cameo specimens are genuinely scarce within the silver proof series. With silver prices elevated in 2025, you’ve got metal value plus numismatic premium working together.

Six PR70 CAM examples have been certified, but very few have traded publicly. The real action has been in the PR67–PR68 range during periods of strong collector demand.

The auction record chart below showcases the peak values achieved by the Silver CAM dollar in recent sales.

Market activity from the past year clearly shows its appeal to collectors.

Market activity score: 53/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 16 points from Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

 

1976-S Silver DCAM Dollar Value

Watch for signature labels on these. Some coins carry the David Hall Signature or the Miles Signature. David Hall co-founded PCGS in 1986 and basically invented modern third-party grading, so his personal authentication carries real weight.

Hall-signed PR69 examples command around $110, versus $60 for Miles Signature coins. That $50 gap is pure name recognition. Both designations are limited, and Hall signatures often have waitlists. If you’re buying raw and plan to submit, knowing which label you want ahead of time saves you money.

I’d lean toward Hall signatures for long-term holds as his historical significance in numismatics only grows. Miles examples still have speculative upside if the story gains traction.

For those tracking realized prices, the complete auction history offers a window into how buyers have valued this issue since release.

The chart below illustrates how these coins have performed in the market over the past year.

Market activity score: 72/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 22 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 77 (Sep 2026).

Also Read: 17 Rare Dollar Coin Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Rare 1976 Dollar Error List

Error coins from the 1976 Bicentennial series are some of the most fun finds in modern collecting. Here are five noteworthy examples—including two that weren’t widely documented in earlier guides.

1. 1976 No-S Type 2 Silver Proof

This is a triple anomaly that shouldn’t exist. It’s a proof strike with no mint mark, on a 40% silver planchet, with the Type 2 reverse—and all silver Bicentennial coins were supposed to use Type 1 dies only. Everything had to go wrong in exactly the right way.

The coin turned up in 1977 at a Washington, D.C. department store. Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro may have struck trial pieces to test how the new lettering performed. It’s currently certified PCGS PR66CAM and owned by Mitchell Spivack. His son has reportedly requested it as a future inheritance—can you blame him?

Only one is known. The PCGS Price Guide estimate sits at $850,000, putting it among the most valuable modern U.S. coins ever documented.

2. 1976-D Struck on 40% Silver Planchet

Somehow, a small number of 40% silver planchets from San Francisco ended up at the Denver Mint and got struck with Denver’s copper-nickel dies. Only two examples are known—far rarer than the 1974-D or 1977-D silver planchet errors, which have about 45 known examples combined.

You can identify it by the “D” mint mark, heavier weight (24.60 grams versus 22.70 grams for clad), and a solid gray edge with no copper stripe. A comparable 1977-D off-metal error sold for $26,400 at Heritage Auctions. Conservative estimates for the 1976-D version start at $25,000–$40,000 or more.

If you think you have one, weigh it first. The 1.9-gram difference between silver and clad is easy to catch on a decent scale.

3. 1976 Missing Clad Layer Errors

Clad coins are a sandwich: copper core between two copper-nickel outer layers. When the bonding fails, the exposed copper core gives you a distinctive reddish-brown surface instead of the usual silvery look.

On a Bicentennial dollar, this is visually striking. The Liberty Bell and moon show up in copper tones. Heritage Auctions sold a Type 2 MS64 with a missing obverse clad layer for $1,057.50 in 2017. A Type 2 with an indented planchet error—caused by a stray quarter planchet lodged against the reverse die—brought $3,220 at Heritage in 2008 and $1,997.50 at the 2017 FUN auction.

4. 1976 Type 2 Flipover Double Strike Errors

This coin failed to eject after its first strike, flipped over, and got hit again. The result is wild: Eisenhower’s profile from the first strike appears ghostly near the Liberty Bell on the reverse. Reverse design elements show up faintly on the obverse beneath the president’s chin.

Even “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is legible in an unexpected spot below the “L” in “LIBERTY.” Certified PCGS AU58, this Type 2 flipover double strike sold for $2,530 at Heritage Auctions in 2004. Double-struck proof Eisenhower dollars are exceptionally rare and can reach $25,000–$75,000 depending on how dramatic the error looks.

5. 1976 Struck-Through Errors

When foreign material—cloth, wire, tape, grease—gets between the die and planchet during striking, it leaves a void or impression on the surface. One documented 1976-S silver dollar was struck through a piece of tape on the reverse, visible on the right side. That example graded MS65 by PCGS and sold for $1,500 at auction.

Value ranges widely here. Minor grease-filled die errors are common and add little premium. Dramatic struck-through errors with clear, large voids can reach $500 or more.

 

Where To Sell Your 1976 Dollar?

Once you’ve identified a valuable 1976 Dollar, picking the right sales channel is your next move. Different platforms work better depending on what you’re selling and how fast you need to sell it.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

1976 Dollar Market Trend

Market interest: 5,620 collectors tracking this coin as of Oct 2026 — up 1,000 from Mar 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ About the 1976 Dollar Value

1. What’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 1976 Eisenhower dollars?

Type 1 has bold, thick block lettering on the reverse—look at “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “ONE DOLLAR.” Type 2 shows thinner, more refined lettering with subtle serifs.

The Mint switched mid-production because clad planchets weren’t striking up cleanly with the Type 1 die. Silver is softer and struck fine from the start, which is why all 40% silver Bicentennial dollars are Type 1 only.

2. How can I tell if my 1976 dollar is silver or clad?

Check the edge. Clad coins show a distinct orange-copper stripe through the center, flanked by silvery-white outer layers. Silver coins have a uniform gray edge with no copper visible.

You can also weigh it: clad examples weigh 22.70 grams, silver issues weigh 24.60 grams. The 1.9-gram difference is easy to catch on a postal or jeweler’s scale.

3. What makes certain 1976 dollars valuable in high grades?

Conditional rarity. The coin’s large 38.5mm diameter and hard clad composition made it a magnet for bag marks during shipment. Very few have been certified MS67 or higher for any type.

The Greysheet confirms that copper-nickel clad business strikes grading MS65 are scarce, MS66 are rare, and MS67 are virtually elusive across the entire Eisenhower series.

4. What’s the rarest 1976 Eisenhower dollar?

The 1976-S No-S Type 2 Silver Proof. One known. PCGS Price Guide estimate: $850,000. It’s certified PCGS PR66CAM and owned by Mitchell Spivack. A triple anomaly: no mint mark, 40% silver planchet, Type 2 reverse that was never officially used on silver coins.

5. How many 1976-D Type 1 dollars were certified MS67 by PCGS?

Just 13, with none graded finer. Denver struck about 21 million—so fewer than one per million survived in top-pop condition. That’s why MS67 examples have sold for up to $9,600 at Stack’s Bowers.

6. What is a “Blue Ike” versus a “Brown Ike”?

Collector nicknames for the original Mint packaging. “Blue Ikes” are uncirculated silver coins in blue paper envelopes with a pliofilm-sealed coin and a satin finish. “Brown Ikes” are silver proofs in brown cardboard boxes with a faux-wood finish, featuring mirror-like reflective fields. Original packaging is a strong sign you’ve got a genuine silver collector issue.

7. Is the 1976 dollar silver?

Most are not. Philadelphia and Denver struck the vast majority in copper-nickel clad for circulation. Only San Francisco made 40% silver versions, sold exclusively to collectors. No “S” mint mark plus a copper stripe on the edge means clad—no silver content.

8. What is the 1976-D struck on a silver planchet error worth?

Only two are known. A comparable 1977-D silver planchet error sold for $26,400 at Heritage Auctions. Conservative estimates for the 1976-D start at $25,000–$40,000 or more. Any suspected example needs professional authentication and weighing.

9. Why did the U.S. Mint produce both Type 1 and Type 2 reverse dies?

Type 1 wasn’t striking cleanly on clad planchets. The harder copper-nickel alloy wouldn’t flow into the die like silver did. Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro redesigned the reverse with sharper, narrower lettering in higher relief, which fixed the problem. All 1975 proof set dollars are Type 1; all 1976 proof set dollars are Type 2.

10. What proof finishes exist for the 1976-S Eisenhower dollar, and which is most valuable?

Three levels. Standard proofs have no special designation. Cameo (CAM) proofs show frosted devices against mirrored fields with moderate contrast. Deep Cameo (DCAM) proofs have the sharpest black-and-white contrast and command the highest prices by far. A 1976-S Clad Type 1 PR70 DCAM sold for $25,300 at Heritage Auctions—the record for the entire 1976 dollar series. DCAM examples bring two to three times what standard proofs fetch at comparable grades.