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

1974-D Copper-Nickel Clad $1

Coinage Context

Ikes for the masses: As with the 1974 coppernickel Ike, the 1974-D coins were routinely seen in circulation, and just as routinely, they were pulled from pocket change as souvenirs by the general public.

Some of the 1974-D coins were minted in calendar year 1975, technically making them restrikes. However, in recent decades, the Mint has paid little attention to the nicety of dating coins in the year in which they were made. Numerous issues, especially commemoratives (but others as well), have been "pre-struck" or restruck.

Mint sets, sold at $6.00each, contained one each of all business strike issues, cent through the Eisenhower dollar; 1,975,981 sets were sold.

Numismatic Information

Availability: Eisenhower dollar specialist Dave McHenry noted this:
1974-D: This variety is similar to the 1974 Philadelphia dollar as it is around in bag quantities. Most pieces are well-struck.

However, most are bagmarked, and MS-64 and MS-65 coins are quite scarce.
Certification: By January 1993,PCGS had certified 44 examples of this date at the MS-64 level, III at the MS-65 level, but only seven specimens at the MS-66 level, with none higher. Asis the case with all Eisenhower dollar issues, relatively, few collectors or dealers have ever had their coins certified.

Oops! Wrong planchet: The rarest major variety in the Eisenhower series is the 1974-D dollar in 40% silver rather than in copper-nickel. These were struck on silver clad Proof blanks shipped from San Francisco to Denver. Thomas K. DeLorey, who was on the staff of Coin World at the time, stated that he took calls from two blackjack dealers in Las Vegas, each of whom believed he was the first to make the discovery. The second was surprised to hear that they had already been reported. Specimens were first exhibited publicly at the ANA Convention in 1974.

Varieties
Business strikes:
1. 1974-D copper-nickel clad. Mintage continued into 1975; 1975 strikings are indistinguishable.

2. 1974-D silver clad. Breen-5761. About 30 known. Struck on rejected blanks intended for S Mint Proofs, mistakenly included with nickel-clad blanks and shipped from San Francisco to the Denver Mint. Discovered independently by two Las Vegas blackjack dealers. Note white (not reddish) core and heavier weight than its nickel-clad lookalike.

1974-D Eisenhower: Market Values

1974-D Eisenhower: Summary of Characteristics

Business Strikes:
Enabling legislation: Act of July 23, 1965 (clad 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: 456; Reverse: 228.
Business strike mintage: 45,517,000.
Comment on availability, MS-65 or better: Scarce.

Comment on availability, MS-64: Scarce.

Comment on availability, MS-63: Readily available. Comment on availability, MS-60 to 62: Most Mint State coins are in this category.
Comment on availability, VF-20 to AU-58: Common.
Characteristics of striking: The typica1 1974-D Ike is well struck, although soft strikes are not unknown for this date. The interested collector will locate a sharp gem specimen without too much difficulty.
Known hoards of Mint State coins: No Uncirculated bag hoards are known, but roll quantities exist.

Proofs:
None.

Commentary
Scarce only in gem grade.