1977-D $1 MS66 Certification #14207305, PCGS #7424

Charles Morgan

The 1977-D Eisenhower Dollar

1977 marked the penultimate year of the Eisenhower Dollar. The large, copper-nickel clad coin, issued to honor the late president, was an interesting novelty upon its 1971 debut. However, as a circulating medium, it proved to be just as unpopular as the silver cartwheels that preceded it. Outside of casinos and certain rural areas of the American West, the "Ike" dollar failed to gain traction in commerce when the more portable and practical $1 Federal Reserve Note was readily available.

As the decade wound down, Congress and the United States Mint turned their attention to shrinking the dollar coin, hoping a smaller diameter would encourage widespread circulation. For this project, Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro would spend the next two years developing a design that would eventually go down in U.S. Mint history as one of its most controversial: the Susan B. Anthony Dollar.

As for the 1977-D Eisenhower Dollar (#7424), the Denver Mint struck 32,983,006 coins, releasing most of them into circulation in the western United States. Occasionally, bank customers still turn these in for cash; nearly 50 years after their release, the typical circulated example generally falls into the Extra Fine (XF) range.

The 1977-D remains readily available in Mint State due to its inclusion in the 1977 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set. A total of 2,006,869 sets were sold to collectors at an issue price of $7.00—roughly $39.00 in today's inflation-adjusted dollars. Outside of original bags and rolls, these sets offer collectors the best opportunity to find Gem Mint State coins. Containing $3.82 in face value, these sets remain surprisingly affordable, often selling for $15 to $20. The coins become valuable in grades MS66 or higher.

Collector Troy Weaver, who assembled one of the finest Eisenhower Dollar sets in the history of the hobby, famously purchased Mint Sets in high volume. He would cut the sets open to remove the "Ike" dollars—even those that were not of particularly high quality—and store them in coin tubes. This systematic approach ensured he would never inadvertently repurchase the same "searched" sets while hunting for elusive high-grade specimens. Known for his discerning eye for quality and early die state strikes, Weaver built a legendary collection, though he did acquire several of his most exceptional examples from the personal collection of fellow Ike specialist James Sego.

1977-D Eisenhower Dollar: 40% Silver Planchet Error

One of the most significant rarities in the Eisenhower series occurred when a small number of 1977-D Ike Dollars were inadvertently struck on 40% silver-clad planchets. These planchets were intended for the San Francisco Mint’s Bicentennial coinage but found their way into the Denver Mint’s production line. Approximately 10-15 exist. This error was first published in Coin World and Numismatic News in February 1978 and is ranked #65 on the Garrett/Schechter list of the Top 100 Modern United States Coins.

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