Q. David Bowers
It was suggested that Dwight D. Eisenhower, the former president of the United States, who had passed away by that time, be pictured on the coins. This raised a cry from dissenters who favored Harry S. Truman or Lyndon B. Johnson, both of whom were living (and, according to coinage laws, could not have their portraits used) or some other motif. Others suggested that the pieces be made entirely of silver or entirely of clad metal, or something between.
All of this input from collectors, which was duly recorded in the editorial pages of Numismatic News and Coin World, bothered Abe Kosoff, who suggested:
"A historian records history, and a numismatist collects or studies whatever moneys or medals interest him. At least this was true in the past. Today, collectors and dealers try to influence the production and distribution of coins, usually seeking an advantage with which they can enhance their opportunities for building their collection or for monetary profit. This is comparable to a historian trying to create history so that he could write a book. Is history itself not interesting in the mere recording of it?
"Does not enough occur to retain our attention? And has not enough coinage of interest been created during the past 20 centuries without inviting our attempts to tamper with the natural course of events? Please don't tell me that we would have no progress without new ideas. New ideas cannot be stifled. But do we need thousands of advisors projecting dozens of ideas and hundreds of variations thereon? I read with some amusement the many letters written by collectors, dealers, and speculators, the pros and cons of having silver in the proposed Eisenhower dollar.
"I guess I've had about as much experience in this hobby as most of my readers, and as much as do those who have written so many letters. I fail to see what the fuss is all about. I can't see that any of us is supposed to create history. Our job is to record it. Whatever the decision may be-40% silver, or clad metal-let us accept it as something that is an accomplished fact, let us collect it as a coin of the realm and as a tribute to the man who contributed much to our glorious history.
"Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think you should be stifled. Expression gives birth to ideas, but let us not be guilty of thinking too little and talking too much, for with much talk there is much foolishness. I do not particularly care about some dealer who is speculating in silver and wants a silver dollar. I simply would like an Eisenhower coin."
After much wrangling in Congress, the Eisenhower dollar became a reality in 1971. Numismatists were greeted with three versions during the first year: a Philadelphia Mint copper-nickel clad coin, a Denver Mint copper-nickel clad coin, and a San Francisco silver clad piece (which was available in two further variations, Uncirculated and Proof). Production of the Eisenhower dollar continued through 1978. Those produced for the bicentennial were dated 1776-1976 and had a special reverse design differing from the standard motif and which featured an eagle landing on the moon.