Market Analysis: The first and last years of a series

1971 and 1978 are the first and final years of the Eisenhower dollars series. Collectors have plenty to choose from because there are both Philadelphia Mint and Denver Mint coins in Uncirculated sets. The population shrinks in the highest grades, and prices rise accordingly.

The Philadelphia Mint issued 47,799,000 1971 Eisenhower dollar coins. Of those, the Professional Coin Grading Service Population Reports lists one Mint State 67 specimen as the best known. On June 13, the highlighted example sold at an online auction by GreatCollections for $19,186.88.

The Philadelphia Mint had a mintage totaling 25,702,000 1978 Eisenhower Dollars when we traveled to the last year of the series. PCGS has only graded eight MS-67 1978 dollars, none of which are better. GreatCollections sold one 1978 “Ike dollar” for $9,843.75, proving the market depth for these Registry Set rares.