Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia

1973-S Copper-Nickel Clad $1

Coinage Context

Proof-only issue: Copper-nickel Eisenhower dollars made their first appearance in the Proof format this year, but were only available as part of the regular Proof sets of this date, not as individual coins. Minted in San Francisco, Proof Eisenhower dollars were now available in 40% silver and also in copper nickel composition.

Numismatic Information

First of their kind: The first Proof copper-nickel Eisenhower dollars were well-received by the collecting public. The deep mirror fields and cameo portrait of the former president are actually quite attractive, and their addition to the Proof sets 'of this year made for a welcome addition to coin collections everywhere.

As of January 1993, PCGS had certified nine Proof-65 specimens, 17 Proof-of coins, 50 at the Proof-67 level, and 24 Proof-68 pieces, with none higher. None had been certified lower than Proof-65, a fact that speaks highly of the Mint's quality control during this era.

Varieties
Proofs:
1. 1973-S copper-nickel clad.

1973-S Eisenhower: Market Values

1973-S Eisenhower: Summary of Characteristics

Business Strikes:
None

Proofs:
Enabling legislation: Act of July 23, 1965 (dad metal), Act of December 31, 1970, and others.
Weight (copper-nickel clad): 350 grains (tolerance 4%); outer layers of .750 copper and .250 nickel bonded to inner core of pure copper.
Dies prepared (approximate): Obverse: 1,104; Reverse: 789.
Business strike mintage: None.

Proof mintage: 2,760,339.
vast majority of this date can be found at the gem level, as the same careful handling was accorded these coins as used in all other Proof coinage of the era.
Comment on availability, Proof-64: Scarcer than preceding.
Comment on availability, Proof-63: Scarcer than are the above gem categories.
Comment on availability, Proof-60 to 62: Few examples of this date are found at this level for the reasons stated above.

Commentary
These were the first Proof copper-nickel Eisenhower dollars.