Top 20+ Most Valuable Eisenhower Dollars Worth Money

When Eisenhower dollars debuted in 1971, few predicted these coins—rejected by the public as too cumbersome for daily use—would become some of the most coveted treasures in modern American numismatics. Minted from 1971-1978 to honor President Eisenhower and the Apollo 11 moon landing, today’s top examples command five-figure prices at auction.

These coins emerged during a pivotal period in U.S. monetary history, as the nation moved away from silver coinage and grappled with large-denomination coins in modern commerce. Mint errors, low-mintage varieties, and exceptionally preserved specimens became hidden numismatic gold mines.

The following most valuable Eisenhower dollars—from a record-breaking 1973-S silver proof that sold for over $40,000 to condition rarities that transformed common Denver mint coins into auction stars—each tell unique stories of survival, discovery, and the pursuit of numismatic perfection.

 

 

The Most Valuable Eisenhower Dollars Worth Money

1. 1973-S Silver Proof Eisenhower Dollar

Record Price: $40,250 (NGC PR67, Heritage Auctions 2008)

1973 was the year the U.S. Mint essentially gave up on the Eisenhower dollar as a circulating coin, producing only 2 million pieces for Mint Sets instead of the hundreds of millions struck in 1971-1972. The government had realized that Americans simply wouldn’t use these massive coins in daily commerce.

Unlike earlier Eisenhower dollars struck with problematic W-1 die steel that caused weak strikes and die sinking issues, the 1973 coins were produced using harder 52100 die steel, resulting in much sharper detail. This makes the error even more striking – the superior steel created crisp impressions that make the indent from the foreign planchet stand out dramatically.

The coin also captures a unique moment in mint operations. 1973 was the first year copper-nickel proof Eisenhower dollars were included in regular proof sets, responding to collector demands that all circulating coins be represented. Meanwhile, the separate 40% silver proof version had a mintage of only 1,013,646 – the lowest of the entire Eisenhower series.

The $40,250 price reflects not just the dramatic error, but ownership of a coin that embodies America’s last attempt at large dollar coinage, technological improvements in minting, and the transition between silver and base metal collector coins – all accidentally preserved in this spectacular mishap.

 

2. 1971-S Type 1 Reverse Silver Eisenhower Dollar

Record Price: $30,550 (PCGS PR68DCAM, Legend Rare Coin Auctions 2023)

The 1971-S Type 1 Reverse Silver Eisenhower Dollar is a unique variety that shouldn’t technically exist – it features a low-relief Type 1 reverse die typically used only for business strikes, but struck as a proof coin.

Discovered by collector Andy Oskam in 2013, this coin emerged from a special wooden box bearing the Presidential Seal and President Nixon’s golden facsimile signature. These presentation pieces were reportedly distributed at a ceremony with President Nixon and Mamie Eisenhower, making them not just numismatic rarities but historical artifacts.

As of 2017, PCGS had certified only four examples, with two achieving the finest grade of PR69 Deep Cameo. The variety can be identified by examining the flat rim on the earth from 9 o’clock to 12 o’clock—a diagnostic feature that distinguishes the Type 1 reverse from the high-relief Type 2 design normally used on proof strikes.

Some experts believe this was struck as a presentation piece or pattern, representing a fascinating collision of presidential ceremony, minting accident, and numismatic discovery that remained hidden for over four decades.

Check 1971 Eisenhower Dollar History, Variety Price Chart & Errors List

 

3. 1976-S Clad Type 1 Eisenhower Dollar

Record Price: $25,300 (PCGS PR70, Heritage Auctions 2011)

The coin’s value stems from multiple rarity factors. The Type 1 variety features thick, bold lettering from 1975 production, with under 3 million coins minted compared to over 4 million of the more common Type 2 examples with thinner letters. However, the true rarity emerges at the perfect PR70 grade level, where PCGS has certified only 41 examples as of February 2025, while NGC has never approved a single “perfect” proof.

The very first PR70DCAM certified by PCGS when it sold in July 2011. The coin displays flawless nickel-gray surfaces with lustrous devices and deeply mirrored fields, enhanced by subtle champagne toning on the reverse.

Beyond its technical excellence, this coin embodies the cultural significance of America’s Bicentennial commemoration. Even coins with substantial original mintages become highly desirable when preserved in pristine state, as few survive decades of handling without impairment.

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4. 1972 Type 2 Eisenhower Dollar

Record Price: $14,400 (NGC MS66, Heritage Auctions 2022)

The 1972 Type 2 Eisenhower Dollar represents the holy grail of modern American dollar collecting. This coin’s $14,400 sale price in MS66 condition reflects its status as the undisputed key date of the entire Eisenhower series.

What makes this coin legendary is its accidental creation. The Type 2 was accidentally struck with a reverse die intended for proof coins only, using just one known reverse die. Of the 75.89 million Philadelphia dollars produced in 1972, perhaps only 100,000 were made with the Type 2 die, and fewer than 40,000 are presumed to survive in attributable condition.

Examples grading MS65 trade for around $1,000 to $3,000, while the handful known at MS66 level command between $6,600 and $14,400. PCGS has certified just 15 examples at MS66 or finer (13 at MS66 and 2 at MS66+), with NGC reporting only 4 at MS66.

The coin is identifiable by its distinctive reverse design where the Caribbean islands below Florida appear very flat and almost indistinguishable, unlike other 1972 varieties. This minting accident created what collectors consider the series’ crown jewel, proving that sometimes the most valuable coins emerge from the most unexpected circumstances.

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5. 1976-D Type 1 Eisenhower Dollar

Record Price: $14,375 (PCGS MS63, Bowers & Merena 2001)

This particular 1976-D Type 1 Eisenhower Dollar holds the auction record for the entire variety, establishing a remarkable $14,375 benchmark that has stood for over two decades. The coin’s sale through the prestigious Lucien M. LaRiviere Collection at Bowers & Merena in May 2001 marked a defining moment in Eisenhower dollar collecting.

The 1976-D Type 1 features thicker lettering compared to the more common Type 2, with a mintage of only 21,048,710 coins, making it significantly scarcer than its Type 2 counterpart. Both varieties are common up to MS65 grades, but the Type 1 becomes much scarcer in MS66 condition or higher.

The coin’s MS63 grade might seem modest, but the extraordinary price suggests this specimen possessed exceptional qualities—possibly superior eye appeal, strike, or luster that elevated it above typical examples. PCGS notes that superb MS67 examples of both Type 1 and Type 2 are elusive, emphasizing the overall condition rarity of the series.

Recent MS67 examples have sold for $9,600, yet this MS63 specimen commanded 50% more, demonstrating how exceptional eye appeal, historical provenance, and market timing can create legendary auction results that define entire collecting categories.

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6. 1974-D Eisenhower Dollar

Record Price: $14,100 (NGC MS65, Heritage Auctions 2014)

This 1974-D Eisenhower Dollar hammered for $14,100 at Heritage’s 2014 FUN auction. Unlike the dramatic mint errors or presidential presentation pieces we’ve examined, this coin’s extraordinary value lies purely in its flawless survival against overwhelming odds.

Denver struck over 45 million of these copper-nickel clad dollars, yet the vast majority suffered the inevitable fate of large, heavy coins—dings, scratches, and bag marks from their journey through mint bags and banking systems. While raw examples can still be found in rolls at MS60-MS63 levels, achieving MS65 requires exceptional circumstances, with perhaps only 1,000 examples reaching MS66 condition.

The 1974-D was often found in large quantities through discoveries like the Big Sky Hoard, making individual specimens seem commonplace. Yet this coin’s journey from mint bag to NGC holder to auction podium illustrates how third-party grading revolutionized value perception for modern issues.

Recent MS67+ sales approaching the same price range prove this wasn’t a market anomaly but a harbinger of sustained demand. The $14,100 benchmark established that Eisenhower dollars had graduated from nostalgic collectibles to serious numismatic investments, fundamentally reshaping how collectors approached coins from their own lifetime.

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7. 1974-S Silver Eisenhower Dollar

Record Price: $13,513 (PCGS MS68+, Legend Rare Coin Auctions 2021)

This 1974-S Silver Eisenhower Dollar represents the pinnacle of what happens when nature, time, and exceptional preservation. The $13,512.50 price at Legend’s October 2021 Regency Auction wasn’t just for a coin—it was for a living rainbow that transformed collecting expectations.

What sets this specimen apart is its breathtaking toning palette. The auction description captures something rarely seen in 40% silver Eisenhowers: “swirling bands of green, magenta, tangerine, and azure toning brought out by brilliant mint luster.” Unlike typical examples that develop milky, hazy coloration with hints of gold, this coin achieved museum-quality toning that rates “off the charts” on professional color scales.

With a mintage of 1,900,156 and current PCGS population showing only 17 coins graded MS68+ and just 15 graded higher at MS69, this represents the absolute elite tier of 1974-S survivors. The MS68+ grade places it among fewer than a dozen known examples at this level or better.

The auction established a new record for the variety at $13,513. This wasn’t just condition rarity commanding premium prices—it was the recognition that some coins transcend their technical specifications to become works of art.

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8. 1972-D Eisenhower Dollar

Record Price: $13,200 (PCGS MS67+, Heritage Auctions 2023)

Its $13,200 sale at Heritage’s July 2023 auction wasn’t just about acquiring a coin—it was about securing a crown jewel for the prestigious “HJAM Coquia 1972 Mint Set” registry set, where it now resides as a centerpiece.

Despite a massive mintage of 92,548,511 coins, the 1972-D becomes scarce only in grades of MS66 and higher, ranking as probably the second toughest Denver circulation strike from the early series, trailing only the 1978-D. The MS67+ grade places this specimen among the absolute elite survivors from Denver’s production.

Registry set competition has fundamentally altered collecting dynamics for high-grade Eisenhower dollars. The coin’s journey from mint bag to registry set glory exemplifies how systematic collecting and public competition can drive values to extraordinary levels.

Previous MS67 examples sold for significantly less, with a 2017 specimen bringing just $1,440, demonstrating the dramatic price appreciation driven by registry competition. The HJAM Coquia collection’s pursuit of perfection created numismatic history, proving that today’s elite collectors are willing to pay premium prices for registry set supremacy.

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9. 1973-D Eisenhower Dollar

Record Price: $12,925 (PCGS MS67, Heritage Auctions 2013)

Its $12,925 sale at Heritage’s June 2013 Long Beach auction established a benchmark that reflects both the coin’s exceptional preservation and its status as a condition rarity within the Eisenhower Dollar series.

Unlike previous years when Denver struck over 90 million Eisenhower dollars, the 1973-D had a drastically reduced mintage of only 2 million coins, produced exclusively for inclusion in mint sets rather than circulation. Each 1973 mint set came in a sealed white envelope containing two soft plastic packs—one from Philadelphia and one from Denver—with each denomination represented.

What transforms this coin from merely scarce to genuinely rare is its MS67 grade. Eisenhower dollars grading MS67 are virtually elusive due to their large size and susceptibility to surface imperfections during handling. The 1973-D’s combination of low mintage and extreme condition rarity makes high-grade examples exceptionally valuable, with MS67 specimens representing the pinnacle of preservation for this issue.

The timing of this coin’s record sale in 2013 captured the market at a pivotal moment when collectors were beginning to recognize condition rarity in modern issues. This price point validated the 1973-D as a legitimate condition rarity deserving serious collector attention, demonstrating that even relatively modern coins with modest mintages can command substantial premiums when preserved in exceptional grades.

 

10. 1977-D Eisenhower Dollar

Record Price: $12,925 (NGC MS63, Heritage Auctions 2014)

This 1977-D Eisenhower Dollar represents one of numismatics’ most transitional errors—a copper-nickel clad coin accidentally struck on a 40% silver planchet intended for San Francisco Bicentennial issues. The $12,925 Heritage Auctions sale in February 2014 marked the beginning of this specimen’s remarkable price journey, establishing it as a cornerstone of modern error collecting.

The coin’s significance lies in its accidental creation during a tumultuous period in U.S. Mint operations. Walter Breen estimated that only about 15 pieces exist of this variety, struck on silver planchets weighing 24.9 grams versus the normal 22.7 grams for clad coins. This error was first publicized in Coin World and Numismatic News in February 1978 and ranks as #65 on the prestigious Garrett/Schecter list of Top 100 Modern Coins.

The silver composition gives the coin superior strike characteristics and distinctive luster compared to normal clad strikes. While regular 1977-D Eisenhower dollars are common with a mintage exceeding 32 million, this silver planchet error transforms an otherwise ordinary issue into a major rarity.

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