By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes ….
The 1977 Eisenhower Greenback – Apollo 11 Reverse Resumed
With America’s Bicentennial celebrations within the rearview mirror, the quarter greenback, half greenback, and greenback reverse designs reverted to their common designs. For the 1977 Eisenhower Greenback, that meant the return of United States Mint Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro’s sculptural rendition of Michael Collins’ Apollo 11 mission patch.
Whereas most individuals affiliate NASA and the moon missions with President Kennedy (and rightly so), it was President Dwight D. Eisenhower who signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act into legislation in 1958. Eisenhower was a powerful supporter of America’s area program and accelerated the federal government’s spending on applications, such because the Saturn rocket. Eisenhower died on March 28, 1969, practically 4 months earlier than the Apollo 11 moon touchdown captivated the complete world.
In that context, Gasparro’s Eisenhower Greenback obverse and reverse design make sense collectively. This was certainly the legacy this nice man left to a grateful nation. The ultimate moon touchdown came about within the second 12 months of the Eisenhower Greenback’s manufacturing. Individuals didn’t realize it, however it could be 50 years and counting earlier than humanity set its sights on strolling on the lunar floor once more.
1977 was not a 12 months with out a main area achievement, nonetheless. In 1977 the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft launched, placing in movement an odyssey of human area exploration to the farthest reaches of our photo voltaic system.
How Many 1977 Eisenhower {Dollars} Have been Made and What Are They Price?
Regardless of the Eisenhower Greenback’s unsuitability for circulation, the Philadelphia Mint struck 12,596,000 cash in 1977. Of that whole, 2,006,869 have been packaged within the annual Mint Set. In Uncirculated situation, the 1977 Eisenhower Greenback has a retail worth of about $3.00 – $4.00.
Licensed examples in excessive grade can carry a major premium. Contemplating that the everyday Mint Set Uncirculated instance has grade-limiting dings and scratches, discovering an instance of enough high quality to justify certification is unlikely with out analyzing dozens, if not a whole bunch, of Mint Units. The everyday grade of a Mint Set coin is MS63.
Terminal Grade for licensed cash is MS65, with the everyday MS65 instance promoting at or beneath the price of certification. In MS66, the 1977 retails for between $55 and $70 relying on high quality. MS67 cash are available in a variety of high quality, and this date is plagued with cash that have been bulk-graded at this degree a number of years in the past. These examples are usually of poor high quality for the date and won’t CAC. The highest licensed grade for this problem is MS68.
A CAC-quality 1977 can promote for greater than $2,000 with superlative firming and clear surfaces.
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Market Information and Noteworthy Specimens
Prime Inhabitants: PCGS MS68 (1, 1/2025), NGC MS67+ (8, 1/2025), and CAC MS67 (9:1 stickered:graded, 1/2025).
- PCGS MS67 CAC #37711496: Heritage, June 9, 2019, Lot 7759 – $2,160.
- PCGS MS67 CAC #82601206: Heritage, February 17, 2017, Lot 4782 – $1,821.25.
- PCGS MS67 CAC #25662045: Heritage, March 4, 2016, Lot 4370 – $3,055. Based on Heritage, solely MS67 CAC Ike at time of public sale.
- NGC MS67 #6697141-009: GreatCollections, June 30, 2024 – View.
- NGC MS67 #2540070-004: “The Pittstown Assortment,” Stack’s Bowers, April 1, 2021, Lot 11430 – $3,600.
- NGC MS67 #5744323-006: Heritage, April 15, 2020, Lot 25405 – $870.
- NGC MS67 #4839719-004: Heritage, December 4, 2019, Lot 21436 – $1,500.
- PCGS MS67 #37004353: Heritage, August 18, 2019, Lot 7584 – $1,440.
- PCGS MS67 #37000252: Legend Uncommon Coin Auctions, June 27, 2019, Lot 426 – $1,175.
- PCGS MS67 #83144228: Heritage, July 9, 2017, Lot 23441 – $851.88.
- PCGS MS67 #81631712: Heritage, October 4, 2016, Lot 4444 – $1,527.50.
- PCGS MS67 #15339141: “Sonoran Monsoon Assortment,” Heritage, January 8, 2016, Lot 6226 – $2,232.50. Sonoran Monsoon on label.
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Design
Obverse:
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 phrase 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 bust truncation.
Reverse:
The reverse is predicated on Michael Collins’ Apollo 11 Mission Patch design.
Within the heart, a bald eagle in descent. In its talons, an olive department. Its left wing is raised. The lunar floor lies beneath. Above the eagle’s head is an outline of the Earth; the North American continent 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 Eisenhower greenback is reeded.
Coin Specs
| Nation: | United States of America |
| Yr of Concern: | 1977 |
| Denomination: | One Greenback (USD) |
| Mintmark: | None (Philadelphia) |
| Mintage: | 12,596,000 |
| Alloy: | Copper-Nickel (Cu-Ni) |
| Weight: | 22.68 g |
| Diameter: | 38.10 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| OBV Designer: | Frank Gasparro |
| REV Designer: | Frank Gasparro | Michael Collins |
| High quality: | Uncirculated |
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