Dollar coins hold a special place in American history. Though seen as impractical then, they’ve soared in value thanks to their beautiful designs, pristine quality finishes, and high face value.
One of the most valuable dollar coins to look out for and collect is the 1776 to 1976 silver dollar coin. As part of the Eisenhower series, it celebrated the 34th President Eisenhower and marked the bicentennial anniversary of American Independence.
Today, we will use valuable tools like CoinValueChecker and auction sites to give detailed information about the 1776 to 1976 silver dollar coin value.
1976 No Mint Silver Dollar Type 1
The Eisenhower dollar (Ike dollar) was a coin series from 1971 to 1978. It came about after the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, died. U.S. legislators were keen to commemorate him through a redesigned one-dollar coin.
The first variety of 1776 to 1976 silver dollars we will talk about was produced in Philadelphia. These coins are easily identifiable if they have no mint mark on the coin’s obverse side.
Philadelphia made 4,019,000 Type 1 dollar coins, making them relatively uncommon by collector’s standards. Type 1 coins have thicker lettering on the reverse side of the coin.
They were made of 75% copper and 25% Nickel over a copper center, meaning they had a significantly lower melting face of $0.211 than their face value. Initial reports suggest they were very unpopular among the public because of their large size (38.1 mm) and weight (22.68 grams).
| 1776 to 1976 Silver Dollar value chart | ||||
| Mint Mark | Good(G-4) | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated(MS-65) | Uncirculated (MS-67) |
| 1976 No Mint Silver Dollar Type 1 | $21 | $63 | $329 to $870 | Up to $7,637 |
| 1976 No Mint Silver Dollar Type 2 | $8 | $20 | Up to $129 | Up to $8,050 |
| 1976 D Type 1 Silver Dollar | $16 | $125 | Up to $168 | Up to $8,050 |
| 1976 D Type 2 Silver Dollar | $15 | $20 | Up to $60 | Up to $4,080 |
| 1976 S Clad Type 1 Silver Dollar | – | – | $29 | $94 |
| 1976 S Clad Type 2 Silver Dollar | – | – | $20 | $46 |
| 1976 No S Type 2 Silver Dollar | – | – | – | Up to $850,000 |
The obverse side was designed by U.S. chief engraver Frank Gasparro and depicted President Eisenhower in profile, with the words ‘In God We Trust’ and ‘Liberty’ printed around him and the dual date 1776 – 1976.
While Gasparro designed the original coin’s reverse side, the U.S. Mint wanted a notable redesign to be struck in 1975 and 1976 to commemorate the bicentennial celebrations. They hosted an open competition, which 22-year-old Dennis William won.
William’s design depicted the signature American Liberty Bell alongside the moon landing to celebrate Eisenhower’s pivotal role in developing the U.S. space program.
Understandably, the highest auction prices for these coins are at higher mint states. The highest recorded sale for one of these coins was set in 2014 when an MS 66 1976 no-mint Type 1 coin sold for an impressive $7,637.50.
1976 No Mint Silver Dollar Type 2
Type 2 coins are easily recognizable because of their cleaner, sleeker text. They came about upon a request from chief engraver Frank Gasparro, who wanted the coin’s reverse side struck in a higher relief to help with production.
Philadelphia produced over 113,318,000 Type 2 coins. You can identify these by their sleek lettering and the absence of a mint mark.
While statistics from auction sites like PCGS show these coins can sell for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, most of these sales are because of a coin error.
As such, it can be hard to define its average value properly. An average coin usually sells for around $65, though it can exceed thousands of dollars with a fault present. Take this 1976 no-mint Type 2 dollar coin, for example, which sold for over $8,050 in 2007, because it was struck on the wrong-sized coin.
1976 D Silver Dollar Type 1
The Denver mint struck bicentennial silver dollar coins, again with Type 1 and Type 2 variations. For Type 1, we know that over 21,048,710 coins were made, making them quite common by today’s standards.
You can quickly identify these coins by Denver’s signature ‘D’ mint mark, located underneath Eisenhower’s portrait. Despite a larger production number than Philadelphia, these coins are generally worth more in lower mint states.
Values fluctuate around a couple of hundred dollars for MS65 coins. But some coins have broken all expectations. Take this 1976 D silver dollar, which had an original PSCG valuation of just $12 – it went on to sell for an unprecedented $14,375 in 2001.
1976 D Silver Dollar Type 2
Denver produced an incredible 82,179,564 bicentennial Type 2 silver dollar coins, easily eclipsing other mints that year.
The higher production understandably hurts this coin’s value at auction, with fair or excellent conditioned coins only valued at around the $60 mark. That said, some high-mint coins have been known to defy price guides and go on to sell for small fortunes.
Take this 1976 D Type 2 silver dollar with an MS of 66. Initially valued at $100, the coin went on to sell for an incredible $4,080 in 2020, proving that some coins can sell for extraordinary prices if in pristine condition.
1976 S Clad Type 1 Silver Dollar
San Francisco is the final mint to have produced bicentennial silver dollars. You can recognize these coins by the obverse’s signature ‘S’ mint mark.
The San Francisco mint produced 2,845,450 Type 1 silver dollars during this period. Most coins will still have a Deep Cameo, i.e., an unbroken frosted appearance, and usually sell in M.S. 67+.
As proofs, most of these coins have survived in pristine condition, making them relatively less desirable at auction.
Even at the highest mint state, coins rarely sell for more than a hundred or so dollars and often come as part of a proof set. The highest recorded individual sale for an S-clad Type 1 silver dollar was just $94 in 2012.
1976 S Clad Type 2 Silver Dollar
The San Francisco mint produced over 4,149,730 Type 2 silver dollar coins. You can identify them by their slender lettering on the reverse side and the ‘S’ mint mark on the obverse.
Like the previous coins, almost all S Clad Type 2 silver dollars will have Deep Cameos and be in a high mint state. This can diminish their value in the eyes of collectors, as coins will essentially be identical to each other, averaging in value from $20 to $46.
While auction site PCGS lists an S Clad type 2 coin selling for $41,400, there’s no public auction information to explain this valuation. Most likely, it had a unique error that set it apart.
1976 No S Type 2 Silver Dollar
The last variety we’ll discuss is a world-famous, one-of-a-kind coin – the 1976 No S Type 2 Silver Dollar.
It was discovered in 1977 in a Woodward and Lathrup Department store in the Washington District area, causing immense fanfare within the coin-collecting industry.
Experts have guessed that Mint Director Mary Brooks may have ordered its creation for demonstration purposes and was never meant to enter circulation.
As only one coin has been recorded to date, it is near impossible to gauge just how valuable this coin is. However, auction site PCGS estimates its value at over $850,000.
1776 to 1976 Silver Dollar Grading
Are you wondering if you have a Type 1 or Type 2? Unsure if the 1976 silver dollar you own is in fair or excellent condition?
The below video has some great tips on how to rate your silver dollars:
Rare 1776 to 1976 Silver Dollar Errors
Errors can help turn an ordinary coin into some extraordinary. That’s because even the slightest fault can transform your silver dollar into a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Known rare errors include:
1776 to 1976 Silver Dollar strike errors
Strike errors are when something goes wrong on one or both sides of the coin during production. When striking the coin, a piece of dust or debris might enter the chamber, or the coin may fail to eject in time and be re-struck a second time.
This 1976 silver dollar, for example, has a flip-over double strike error, which sees a partial imprint of Eisenhower on the reverse side. This unique fault increased its value to $2,530 in 2004.
1776 to 1976 Silver Dollar off-center error
Off-centering is when the design is skewed or misaligned with the coin. The higher the off-center, the higher the value.
This bicentennial D silver dollar has a 10% off-centering, distorting its design significantly, and is worth up to $384 at auction.
1776 to 1976 Silver Dollar planchet errors
The planchet is the piece of metal the coin is stamped upon. Several errors can happen if a broken or incorrect planchet is used.
This 1976 no-mint dollar coin has a smaller planchet error on the top right, most likely due to a nickel planchet mistakenly entering the coin chamber during striking. It is worth an impressive $3,220 at auction.
1776 to 1976 Silver Dollar FAQ
What makes the 1776 to 1976 Silver Dollar unique?
As a bicentennial coin, it has a redesigned reverse side issued for just that year. It also features the signature dual date ‘1776 – 1976’.
Which 1776 to 1976 silver dollar is worth the most?
The coin with the most value is the 1976 No S Type 2 Silver Dollar; only one has been recorded thus far and is valued at over $850,000.
