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Interestingly enough the US Mint with the approval of congress decided to return the one dollar coin into circulation in an attempt to reduce the number of one dollar bills in circulation. The Eisenhower dollar is a great example of the US public rejecting a coin that was simply too bulky to carry around. This was the first of many to come failed attempts by the US Mint to reduce the manufacturing of paper money.
The last silver dollar before the Eisenhower dollar was minted was the 1935-P & S Morgan dollar. In 1964 the US Mint actually minted 316,000 Morgan dollars dated 1964-D. None of these dollars ever made it out of the mint and (to everyone's belief) all of them were destroyed in the mint.
The Eisenhower dollar was first minted for circulation in 1971 and the mint continued to make and release these dollars into circulation until 1975 when no dollars were minted for circulation. The mint resumed the manufacture of the dollar in 1976 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the US. The dollar, like the quarter and the half contained the date 1776-1976 on the face of the coin. The mint continued to make Eisenhower dollars at the dislike of the general public until 1978 when the mint finally stopped making them.
The front of the Eisenhower dollar coin is obviously a portrait of Eisenhower and the reverse of the coin shows a picture of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Where all of these coins are today is anyone's guess. Perhaps millions of them were returned to the mint to be melted and millions of others are in collectors' hands. Chances of seeing an Eisenhower dollar in circulation or even at a bank is near zero. SMCcoins purchased a roll of circulated Eisenhower dollars at auction for $1.05 each. No one wanted them.
The next blunder for the US mint was the release of the Susan B Anthony dollar coin. Clearly this coin was different from the US quarter, however, the major complaint of this coin was that it was about the same size and sometimes it was actually mistaken as a quarter even though it had a distinct looking feature of Susan B encircled by eleven flat connecting bars on the circumference of the coin.
The Susan B was first released into production in 1979 and released to the general public. This coin immediately drew criticism from the general public. Part of the public's dislike was the confusion with the quarter and the other issue was that it was not user friendly in vending machines. The mint continued to make the Susan B in 1980 and 1981 for circulation, however, the dislike for this coin was so great most of the coins sat in bank vaults or in the mints vaults unused. It was not until the late nineties that vending equipment began to show up in the market place with coin mechanisms that could accept the dollar coins. In addition many fares for buses and trains were in the dollar range so the coins were now being accepted in coin release bar mechanisms in New York city. The coin had new life and new demand from the general public who now saw the need for getting a dollar coin in return from a vending machine rather than a pile of quarters. The mint responded to the new demand by producing the 1999 Susan B Anthony coin for circulation after 18 years.
Before the mint released the 1999 Susan B Anthony coin, there was work in process to come up with another dollar design to replace this coin which no one wanted in circulation. The golden colored Sacagawea dollar was introduced into circulation in 2000. This coin like all its predecessors did nothing to alleviate the one dollar bill. The general populace rejected this coin as it had the previous designs. The mint released the 2001 coins into circulation and then discovered that this coin was not going to be accepted by the populace. In 2002, the mint produced this dollar for collectors and sold them on their web site in rolls or in proof sets. Since then the mint has produced the coins only for sale in rolls and in proof sets.
Perhaps the main reason the coin failed is that the mint continues to produce the one dollar bill. Canada on the other had eliminated the one dollar bill and forced the public to use the dollar and two dollar coins. The mint should follow suit if it ever wants to eliminate the costly one dollar bill.
Since none of the dollar coins have had a chance to circulate and obtain wear, the grading specifications for these coins is not clearly definded. It is doubtful that any of these dollar coins can be found in conditions much less than extra fine since the circulation rate of them was so short.
Coin Values
Unless you have a certified coin, none of the dollar coins are of any significant value.
Stan, ANA member and writer.
Now you can puchase our coin guide which is the only coin guide at Barnes and Noble that has realistic coin values based on auction sales data and the prices that coin dealers trade with.
The last silver dollar before the Eisenhower dollar was minted was the 1935-P & S Morgan dollar. In 1964 the US Mint actually minted 316,000 Morgan dollars dated 1964-D. None of these dollars ever made it out of the mint and (to everyone's belief) all of them were destroyed in the mint.
The Eisenhower dollar was first minted for circulation in 1971 and the mint continued to make and release these dollars into circulation until 1975 when no dollars were minted for circulation. The mint resumed the manufacture of the dollar in 1976 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the US. The dollar, like the quarter and the half contained the date 1776-1976 on the face of the coin. The mint continued to make Eisenhower dollars at the dislike of the general public until 1978 when the mint finally stopped making them.
The front of the Eisenhower dollar coin is obviously a portrait of Eisenhower and the reverse of the coin shows a picture of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Where all of these coins are today is anyone's guess. Perhaps millions of them were returned to the mint to be melted and millions of others are in collectors' hands. Chances of seeing an Eisenhower dollar in circulation or even at a bank is near zero. SMCcoins purchased a roll of circulated Eisenhower dollars at auction for $1.05 each. No one wanted them.
The next blunder for the US mint was the release of the Susan B Anthony dollar coin. Clearly this coin was different from the US quarter, however, the major complaint of this coin was that it was about the same size and sometimes it was actually mistaken as a quarter even though it had a distinct looking feature of Susan B encircled by eleven flat connecting bars on the circumference of the coin.
The Susan B was first released into production in 1979 and released to the general public. This coin immediately drew criticism from the general public. Part of the public's dislike was the confusion with the quarter and the other issue was that it was not user friendly in vending machines. The mint continued to make the Susan B in 1980 and 1981 for circulation, however, the dislike for this coin was so great most of the coins sat in bank vaults or in the mints vaults unused. It was not until the late nineties that vending equipment began to show up in the market place with coin mechanisms that could accept the dollar coins. In addition many fares for buses and trains were in the dollar range so the coins were now being accepted in coin release bar mechanisms in New York city. The coin had new life and new demand from the general public who now saw the need for getting a dollar coin in return from a vending machine rather than a pile of quarters. The mint responded to the new demand by producing the 1999 Susan B Anthony coin for circulation after 18 years.
Before the mint released the 1999 Susan B Anthony coin, there was work in process to come up with another dollar design to replace this coin which no one wanted in circulation. The golden colored Sacagawea dollar was introduced into circulation in 2000. This coin like all its predecessors did nothing to alleviate the one dollar bill. The general populace rejected this coin as it had the previous designs. The mint released the 2001 coins into circulation and then discovered that this coin was not going to be accepted by the populace. In 2002, the mint produced this dollar for collectors and sold them on their web site in rolls or in proof sets. Since then the mint has produced the coins only for sale in rolls and in proof sets.
Perhaps the main reason the coin failed is that the mint continues to produce the one dollar bill. Canada on the other had eliminated the one dollar bill and forced the public to use the dollar and two dollar coins. The mint should follow suit if it ever wants to eliminate the costly one dollar bill.
Since none of the dollar coins have had a chance to circulate and obtain wear, the grading specifications for these coins is not clearly definded. It is doubtful that any of these dollar coins can be found in conditions much less than extra fine since the circulation rate of them was so short.
Coin Values
Unless you have a certified coin, none of the dollar coins are of any significant value.
Stan, ANA member and writer.
Now you can puchase our coin guide which is the only coin guide at Barnes and Noble that has realistic coin values based on auction sales data and the prices that coin dealers trade with.
Guide created: 07/19/06 (updated 06/21/08)
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