1977-D Eisenhower Dollar : History & Value

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

1977 marked the second-to-last yr of the Eisenhower Greenback. The big clad greenback coin, issued to honor the late president, was an attention-grabbing novelty merchandise when first launched in 1971. Nonetheless, it proved over time to be simply as unpopular because the silver {dollars} that preceded it. Outdoors of on line casino gaming halls and a few of the extra rural components of the American West, giant greenback cash carried no foreign money in commerce when the extra moveable and sensible $1 Federal Reserve Notice was available.

As the last decade wound down, Congress and the United States Mint started to show their consideration to shrinking the greenback coin in hopes {that a} extra sensible coin may see widespread circulation. For this venture, Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro would spend the following two years hashing out a design that may go down in U.S. Mint historical past as one in every of its most unlucky.

As for the 1977-D Eisenhower Greenback, the Denver Mint struck 32,983,006 cash, releasing most into circulation within the western a part of the United States. Often, financial institution clients will flip money these in, with the everyday circulated instance–practically 50 years after its launch–falling within the Additional Fantastic vary.

The 1977-D Eisenhower Greenback can be accessible within the 1977 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set. A complete of two,006,869 units had been bought to collectors at a problem value of $7.00 USD ($36.08 in 2024 inflation-adjusted {dollars}), and out of doors of unique luggage and rolls, these units provide collectors one of the best alternative of discovering Gem Mint State cash. These units comprise $3.82 in face worth cash, are surprisingly reasonably priced, and might be bought for $6 to $10 with delivery included. A quantity purchaser we all know will usually purchase these units in amount, then lower them aside, take away the cash, and promote them in plastic coin tubes. He does this to make sure that he by no means buys the identical set twice when looking for high-grade Eisenhower {Dollars}.

What Is the 1977-D Eisenhower Greenback Value?

Outdoors of the aforementioned uncooked cash, which promote for very small premiums over face, essentially the most fascinating 1977-D Eisenhower {Dollars} are cash which have been licensed within the grades of MS66+ and above by CAC, NGC, and PCGS. MS66+ cash, of which there are simply over 40 graded, provide the budget-minded collector a possibility to get a high-eye-appeal instance for just a few hundred {dollars}. At MS67, the price of a 1977-D Eisenhower Greenback climbs to over $3,000 for a fascinating coin. That is down significantly from the place the coin was about 10 years in the past. Populations have risen, however not each MS67 coin will meet the requirements of the top-end collector. No less than this was the case when collectors Andy Oskam, James Sego, and Troy Weaver had been actively constructing their award-winning units.

Value much more is the well-known 40% Silver off-metal 1977-D Eisenhower Greenback error coin. See our desk and commentary under.

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Market Information and Noteworthy Specimens

As of this replace in February 2025, PCGS has added 5 to its inhabitants of MS67 cash since Could 2024, going from 17 to 22 top-pop examples. The NGC top-pop census stays at one over the identical interval. CAC has stickered two specimens licensed MS67 since Could, and graded no further MS66 cash.

Prime Inhabitants: PCGS MS67 (22, 2/2025), NGC MS67+ (1, 2/2025), and CACG MS67 (2 stickered, 2/2025) CACG MS66 (1 graded, 2/2025).

• NGC MS67 #6788450-001: Heritage, August 18, 2024, Lot 7500 – $1,383.60.
• NGC MS67 #6785461-001: eBay, February 25, 2024 – $1,600.
• PCGS MS67 #43876681: Stack’s Bowers, April 7, 2022, Lot 6188 – $3,120. Hit in entrance of Eisenhower’s sightline under L. Rim hit above the eyebrow. Rim hit under I. Skinny scratch under IB. Two ticks on the neckline. Hit in hair.
• PCGS MS67 #42804451: GreatCollections, November 7, 2021, Lot 1056994 – View; GreatCollections, February 27, 2022, Lot 1083345 – View.
• PCGS MS67 #26288854: GreatCollections, July 25, 2021, Lot 1022645 – View.
• NGC MS67 #1832490-001: “The Pittstown Assortment,” Stack’s Bowers, March 26, 2021, Lot 5524 – $2,040. Cloudy surfaces. Planchet flaw close to rim at 9 o’clock. Skinny diagonal scratch to the appropriate of Y. Cluster of hits on the neck. Hit on the underside of the chin.  Cluster of hits on the prime of the Eagle’s left wing.
• PCGS MS67 #25793121: Heritage Auctions, August 12, 2016, Lot 5615 – $3,407.50; “I Like Ikes Assortment,” GreatCollections, September 30, 1018, Lot 614611 – View. Goldenrod and yellow rim firming on each side. Skinny scratch above 7. Hit in entrance of Eisenhower’s mouth. Hit on Eisenhower’s brow. 
• NGC MS67 #3552554-075: Heritage Auctions, April 28, 2017, Lot 4866 – $1,410. Diagonal hit above GO. Scattered hits on Eisenhower’s jaw, neck, and behind his eye. Reed marks to the appropriate of seven.
• PCGS MS67 #25627124: Heritage Auctions, March 4, 2016, Lot 5024 – $3,525.  Scattered russet and purple firming, with firming streaks working horizontally over Eisenhower’s face. Firming space simply to the underside left of B.  Skinny scratch throughout Eisenhower’s jaw. Skinny scratch to the appropriate of the eagle’s tail feathers.
• PCGS MS67 #25081934: Stack’s Bowers, January 22, 2013, Lot 12582 – $4,250 Reserve Not Met; Stack’s Bowers, Could 9, 2013, Lot 1203 – $4,700. “The Sonoran Monsoon Assortment (Joe Shirley, Jr.),” Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2016, Lot 6227 – $7,637.50. New holder. Sonoran Monsoon on insert. LI flatly struck. Darkish reflective space to the appropriate of Y. Skinny scratch throughout neck. Small hit on the jaw under the attention. 
• PCGS MS67 #5357485: Heritage Auctions, April 6, 2001, Lot 6876 – $6,037.50; Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2016, Lot 7152 – $6,037.50. Previous Inexperienced Holder.

1977-D Struck on 40% Silver Planchet Mint Error

Struck with planchets supposed for the San Francisco Mint’s silver Bicentennial coinage. Ranked as #65 on the Garrett/Schecter checklist of Prime 100 Trendy Cash. This error was first printed Coin World and Numismatic Information in February 1978. Numismatist Walter Breen estimated a inhabitants of 15 cash of this error, however this whole just isn’t mirrored in public sale appearances.

• NGC MS63 #5230660-002: Heritage Auctions, Could 5, 2022, Lot 3831 – $21,600.
• NGC MS63 #2039328-001: Heritage Auctions, February 4, 2014, Lot 5287 – $12,925; Heritage Auctions, January 2017, Lot 6370 – $17,625; Heritage Auctions, February 24, 2022, Lot 3132 – $26,400. 24.9g.
• NGC MS62 #1846247-001: Heritage Auctions, January 12, 2023, Lot 3808 – $26,400. 24.6g. Blue and gold firming.
• NGC MS62 #2551133-001: Heritage Auctions, March 18, 2011, Lot 4337 – $7,475. 24.16g.
• PCGS AU55 #3595879: Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2004, Lot 9817 – $3,737.50. Certification quantity now not energetic.
• NGC AU Particulars – Scratch #6602116-010: Heritage Auctions, December 21, 2022, Lot 93239 – $3,360. 24.2g. Thick lower behind head.

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Eisenhower Greenback Design

Obverse:

Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro’s portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower (as President); Eisenhower going through to the left. Gasparro’s initials FG seem raised within the bust truncation. Beneath Eisenhower’s chin, to the left, is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The legend LIBERTY wraps across the prime of the coin within the area between the rim and the highest of Eisenhower’s head. The date wraps across the backside of the design, between the rim and the underside of Eisenhower’s truncation. Whereas Philadelphia-struck items bear no mintmark, cash struck at Denver and San Francisco will bear small mintmarks of D or S above the area between the final two digits of the date. On Eisenhower {Dollars}, mintmarks had been hand-punched and should very in precise location and orientation.

Reverse:

The reverse relies on Michael Collins’ Apollo 11 Mission Patch design.

Within the heart, a bald eagle is in descent. In its talons, an olive department. Its left wing is raised. The lunar floor lies under. Above the eagle’s head is an outline of the Earth; North America is prominently seen. Wrapping across the prime of the coin adjoining to the rim is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 13 small five-pointed stars circle across the eagle. Under the ring of stars however above the eagle is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. Wrapping across the backside of the design is the denomination ONE DOLLAR.

Edge:

The sting of the 1977-D Eisenhower Greenback is reeded.

Designer

Frank Gasparro was a buddy to numismatists and served as Chief Engraver of america Mint from 1965 to 1981 (View Designer’s Profile).

Coin Specs

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References

https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl
 

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