Designed by: Frank Gasparro
Issue Dates: 1971-1974, 1977-1978
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel bonded to core of pure copper
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Weight: 22.68 grams (350.00 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 466,001,887
Proof Mintage: 11,751,840

The regular circulating Eisenhower (or Ike) dollar coin was struck from 1971 through 1974, and again in 1977 and 1978. It was composed of an inner core of pure copper bonded between two layers of .750 copper and .250 nickel. Both proofs and business strikes were made in copper-nickel form. Several varieties exist which vary slightly in their relief and appearance of the earth, shown just above and to the left of the eagle’s head. The “Variety 2” dated 1972 is scarcer and rather valuable in high grade. Due to competition among Registry Set collectors, nearly all Ikes in very high grade (MS66 and higher) have achieved three, and sometime four-figure values.

While little criticism was made of its design, it was a large, bulky coin and with the continued printing of the paper dollar, it found little use in daily circulation with most of the coins ending up in casinos for use in slot machines or as tokens.