Which Eisenhower dollars contain silver?
Only coins the Mint sold to collectors. Every Eisenhower dollar released for circulation from 1971 to 1978, and every circulation bicentennial dollar and half, has copper-nickel outer layers over a copper core. The nickel is why they look like silver. A circulated one spends as a dollar, or 50 cents for the half.
The silver coins are 40 percent silver and carry an S mint mark. A dollar holds 0.3162 troy ounces of pure silver and a bicentennial half holds 0.1479.
| Issue | Composition | Silver in it | Where it came from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 to 1978 dollar, no mint mark or D | Copper-nickel clad | None | Pocket change and bank bags, except 1973 and 1973-D, mint sets only |
| 1971-S and 1972-S dollar | 40 percent silver | 0.3162 troy oz | Collector sets only, uncirculated and proof, the only S dollars with no clad version |
| 1973-S and 1974-S dollar | 40 percent silver, or copper-nickel clad proof | 0.3162 troy oz on the silver, none on the clad | Collector sets only, both metals, the weight decides |
| 1977-S and 1978-S dollar | Copper-nickel clad proof | None | Proof sets only, no silver was struck for these dates |
| 1776 to 1976 bicentennial dollar, no mint mark or D | Copper-nickel clad | None | Pocket change and bank bags |
| 1776 to 1976 bicentennial dollar, S mint mark | 40 percent silver, or copper-nickel clad proof | 0.3162 troy oz on the silver, none on the clad | Collector sets only, both metals, the weight decides |
| 1776 to 1976 bicentennial half, no mint mark or D | Copper-nickel clad | None | Pocket change and bank rolls |
| 1776 to 1976 bicentennial half, S mint mark | 40 percent silver, or copper-nickel clad proof | 0.1479 troy oz on the silver, none on the clad | Collector sets only, both metals, the weight decides |
How to check yours
Find the mint mark first. On the dollar it sits above the date, and on the half it sits below the bust. No mark or a D means no silver. An S means a collector coin, and then the weight decides, because San Francisco also struck clad proofs from 1973 on.
| Coin | 40 percent silver | Copper-nickel clad | Scale you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower or bicentennial dollar | 24.59 grams | 22.68 grams | Reads to a tenth of a gram |
| Bicentennial half | 11.50 grams | 11.34 grams | Reads to a hundredth of a gram |
The half is the hard one, with only about a sixth of a gram between the two. If your scale can't read that fine, a counter will weigh it in front of you.
Original packaging can settle it faster. Uncirculated silver dollars were sold in a blue envelope and silver proofs in a brown box, which is why collectors call them blue Ikes and brown Ikes. Keep a coin in its packaging when you bring it in.
Which Eisenhower dollars are worth more than a dollar?
A worn common date is worth face. These are the coins to pull aside:
- 1972 Type 2 reverse. Three reverse types were used on 1972 dollars with no mint mark. Type 2 shows a sharper, higher relief Earth with clearer islands. It is the key variety of the series.
- 1973 and 1973-D. Made for mint sets only and never released for circulation, so a loose one came out of a set and deserves a look.
- 1776 to 1976 dollar, Type 1 and Type 2. The reverse comes with bold lettering or thinner lettering. A worn example of either stays close to face, so the difference matters mainly on coins in high grade.
- Proofs. San Francisco proofs have mirror fields and a frosted portrait. Check the weight on the 1973-S and later, since a clad proof and a silver proof look alike.
The reverse changed twice in the run, from the Apollo 11 eagle (1971 to 1974) to the Liberty Bell and moon (bicentennial), then back to the eagle for 1977 and 1978. The design alone doesn't tell you the value.
Condition matters on every coin above. One that sat in a mint set can bring far more than the same variety from a drawer. A counter will grade yours by eye in front of you, at no charge.
Is the 1776 to 1976 half dollar silver?
Usually not. The bicentennial half is a Kennedy half with a dual date and Independence Hall on the reverse, struck in 1975 and 1976. Coins from circulation are copper-nickel and worth 50 cents. The silver ones came only in collector sets, and since the S proof also exists in clad, use the same weight check as above.
To price the silver before you come in, use the live silver price and the silver coin melt calculator. The Kennedy half dollar guide covers the earlier silver years.
Bring the jar. We check every coin, tell you which are only face value, make an offer on anything worth more, and price silver against today's market, with same-day cash.
Find your nearest of our 9 storesEisenhower dollar FAQs
What years were Eisenhower dollars made?
1971 through 1978. Coins struck in 1975 and 1976 all carry the dual date 1776 to 1976, so no dollar is dated 1975.
Is an Eisenhower dollar silver?
Usually not. Coins released for circulation are copper-nickel and worth a dollar. The 40 percent silver versions were sold to collectors, carry an S mint mark and hold 0.3162 troy ounces of silver. Some S coins are clad too, so weigh it: 24.59 grams is silver and 22.68 grams is clad.
How much is a 1972 Eisenhower dollar worth?
A circulated common 1972 is worth a dollar. The 1972 Type 2 reverse, with its sharper Earth and islands, brings a collector premium, and more in uncirculated condition. A 1972-S is 40 percent silver, so it is worth at least its 0.3162 troy ounces of silver.
Is the 1776 to 1976 half dollar silver?
Not if it came from pocket change. Those are copper-nickel and worth 50 cents. The 40 percent silver halves came in collector sets, carry an S mint mark and hold 0.1479 troy ounces of silver. S proofs were also struck in clad, so weigh it: 11.50 grams is silver and 11.34 grams is clad.
Will you buy Eisenhower dollars that are only worth face value?
We check every coin first and tell you which are only worth face. Those are better spent than sold. The visit makes sure no 1972 Type 2 or silver coin goes out with them, and we make an offer on anything worth more.