(Oct 12, 2013)
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38.1mm and circa 22.68 grams
it was the first coin of that denomination issued by the Mint since the Peace dollar series ended in 1935
The coin depicts General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower , who appears on the obverse
Both its obverse and reverse were designed by Frank Gasparro
coins from that year and from 1976 bear a double date 1776-1976, and a special reverse by Dennis R. Williams in honor of the bicentennial of American independence
when the Mint informed him there was not room for that inscription, he settled for requiring that the reverse design be emblematic of that theme
In March 1970, the two houses reached a compromise whereby 150 million dollars would be struck in the 40% silver alloy for collectors and others
The Apollo 11 mission insignia served as the basis of the Eisenhower dollar's reverse
That sketch served as the basis of his design for the obverse
he was instructed to have the layout of the obverse resemble that of the Washington quarter
The reverse depicts an eagle (representing the lunar lander , Eagle) swooping low over the Moon's surface, holding an olive branch, token of peace, in its claws
Despite an increased mintage in 1972 to over 170 million, and despite what CoinAge magazine termed "near-heroic measures on the part of the Mint", the piece did not circulate
The reverse designs for the three Bicentennial coins were determined by a design competition open to the public
Fearing that a low-mintage 1975 piece would be hoarded, the Mint obtained legislation in December 1974 allowing it to continue coining 1974-dated pieces until it began coinage of Bicentennial pieces
the most noticeable change is that the revised issue, or Type II as it came to be known, have narrower, sharper lettering on the reverse
One proof Bicentennial coin in silver clad and lacking a mint mark, similar to the dollar in the prototype set given to President Ford, is known
In January 1977, just prior to leaving office, Ford's Treasury Secretary, William E. Simon , proposed the elimination of the cent and half dollar, and a reduction in size of the dollar
Such exotic metals as titanium were considered before the Mint decided on the standard clad composition
As the Eisenhower dollar awaited its demise, approximately 50,000,000 per year were struck, using the eagle design for the reverse
The Eisenhower dollar's reverse was used for the Anthony dollar
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