The 1971 silver dollar was issued specifically for collectors either uncirculated or as proofs and is rarely seen in circulation.

These 40 percent silver dollars are available in two varieties – the 1971-S uncirculated and 1971-S proof varieties (also referred to as “blue pack” and “brown pack,” respectively, to identify the color and type of mint packaging they originally came in). There are two major versions of the 1971-S Eisenhower Dollar - both of them have a silver-clad composition with a 40% silver content. The common version is the 1971 Brilliant Uncirculated silver Eisenhower Dollar (as depicted above) which came in the blue pack/envelope with a blue seal ('Blue Ikes'). The Eisenhower dollar was struck from 1971 through 1978 and was intended for regular commerce. Ultimately it failed to see the light of day as a circulating coin beyond the casinos of Las Vegas. Few people knew back in the 1970s that the Eisenhower dollar would be the last circulating large-size dollar coin in the United States.

The 1971 Eisenhower Dollar (Buy on eBay) was the first year of issue for the series. This release also represented the first dollar coin issued by the United States Mint since 1935, when the previous Peace Dollar series concluded.

Trial strikes for the new dollar were prepared at the Philadelphia Mint on January 25, 1971 in an event open to members of the press. The trial strikes were produced from several trial working dies on 40% silver blanks prepared by the coiner. The first production strikes for the Eisenhower Dollar officially took place on March 31, 1971 at the San Francisco Mint. Production at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints commenced later in the year.

The coins struck at San Francisco were silver versions struck for collectors. Congress had authorized the production of up to 150 million of the new dollar coins struck in a composition of 40% silver over a four year period. Uncirculated versions were sold to collectors for $3.00 per coin, while proof versions were sold for $10.00 per coin. Orders were first accepted on July 1, 1971 with fulfillment beginning in early August.

The Philadelphia and Denver Mint struck the Eisenhower Dollars for general circulation, using a copper nickel clad composition. The first coins were released into circulation on November 1, 1971. Finding examples of these early clad Ikes in high grade can be challenging, particularly for the Philadelphia Mint strikes, which can exhibit weak strikes or heavy contact marks.

1971 Eisenhower Dollar Mintages

• 1971: 47,799,000
• 1971-D: 68,587,424
• 1971-S Silver: 6,868,530
• 1971-S Silver Proof: 4,265,234

Coin Specifications

• Designer: Frank Gasparro
• Composition: 91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel (clad), 40% Silver, 60% Copper (silver)
• Weight: 22.68 grams (clad), 24.59 grams (silver)
• Diameter: 38.1 mm
• Edge: Reeded

1972 Eisenhower Dollar >

Silver dollar - 1971 - British Columbia

Commemorates the British Columbia centennial (1871-1971) within the Confederation.

Price guide and value - Silver dollar - 1971 - British Columbia

Silver dollar - 1971 - British Columbia prices and values

The melt and minimum value of a Silver dollar - 1971 - British Columbia is $13.04 CAD.

• Specimen

SP (Specimen): Special collectors coins struck at the Mint with a frosted/mirror appearance on the design and effigy from 1996 to 2021. Before 1996, if specimen coins have been removed from their protective envelope or original package, it is harder to differentiate them from PL coins. Specimen coins are struck up to two times on numismatic presses.

View the average prices of certified Silver dollar - 1971 - British Columbia sold at auctions »

1971 Silver Dollar Value Eisenhower Dollar

Specifications

Eisenhower Dollar

• Quantity sold: 585 217
• Alloy: 50% silver and 50% copper
• Weight: 23.3 grams
• Diameter: 36.07 mm
• Thickness: 2.95 mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Die axis: ↑↑

1971 Silver Dollar Value

Last update : Wednesday, January 27, 2021