US Coins For Sale » Dollars

Eisenhower Dollar

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:53:48 +0000

The Eisenhower Dollar series was issued from 1971 through 1978. The coin front features President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the reverse features the Apollo 11 Mission insignia. This series marked the return of the dollar coin and the first dollar coins made with the copper-nickel composition. There were a total series of 32 coins struck in its eight years. Being the last large size dollar coin of the United State, the Eisenhower Dollar is a favorite among collectors.

The 1935 Peace Dollar was the last dollar coin struck by the US mint prior to the Eisenhower Dollar. The 1965 Coinage Act eliminated silver from circulating US coins and also said that no silver dollar coins could be minted for five years.

The Eisenhower Dollars was designed by Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro. Under the image of Eisenhower is LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. The reverse features a bald eagle landing on the moon carrying an olive branch. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is above the eagle and ONE DOLLAR below.

Special silver clad coins were struck for collectors from 1971 to 1976 with an outer layer of 80% silver and 20% copper and an inner layer composed of 40% silver and 60% copper.

Special Bicentennial issues of the Eisenhower Dollar were minted from 1975 to 1976 with the reverse featuring the Liberty Bell and the moon on the reverse.

Indian Head Gold Dollar

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:53:48 +0000

The very first Indian Head Gold Dollar was minted by the authority of Congress and lasted six years when it was replaced by the thinner and larger Indian Head type. The first Indian Head Gold Dollar was called the ’small’ Indian head gold dollar and was minted from 1854 to 1856. The third gold dollars type was minted from 1856 to 1889. It features an Indian ‘princess’ wearing a featured version of the Liberty cap. It seems a bit odd today that the coin featured the symbol of liberty on the head of the Native American that was being displaced and sent off to reservations, but at that time, it was designed as a tribute.

The gold dollar had its origins during the Carolina gold rush of the 1830s. The sudden availability of gold spurred the US government to makes some changes to the coins it minted. Gold coins were being minted in rather large quantities and two new Mints opened in the Carolinas just for the production of gold coins. Another gold rush in California in 1849 sparked the demand for even more gold coins. The Indian Head Gold dollars were composed of 90% gold and 10% silver and copper.

The Indian Head Gold Dollar is hard to come by and highly prized by collectors.

Peace Silver Dollar

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:53:47 +0000

The Peace Silver Dollar was minted in the US from 1921 to 1928 and once again between 1934 and 1935. The Peace Dollar was issued as a circulating coin in spite of the fact that the earlier proposals for the coin were to be for a commemorative issue to mark the end of World War I.

Anthony de Francisi was the designer of the Peace Silver Dollar. The word PEACE is on the bottom of the reverse of this coin. The Peace Silver Dollar was the successor to the Morgan Dollar.

After the 1921 to 1928 coins were minted, there was a cessation of minting in the US, so the Peace Silver Dollar was minted again in 1934 and 1935. Once more in 1965 the Peace Silver Dollar was minted again but none of these coins were released to the public. All of this mintage was melted down. The Peace Dollar is the last silver dollar that was minted for circulation in the United States.

Designer de Francisci’s wife was the model for the design. The font that was used on this coin was in Art Deco style, which was very popular at the time. This is seen in the inscription “IN GOD WE TRVST” that used the Latin angular U.

The reverse features an eagle sitting atop a rock, facing the sun’s rays. The original design for the reverse featured a bald eagle standing on a broken sword to symbolize peace. This design was seen by many as a symbolization for defeat rather than peace, so the design was altered to use an olive branch in place of the sword.

The public was not satisfied with the design. Lady Liberty has her mouth open and they criticized the Latin spelling of ‘trust’. The Mint released a public statement in 1922, stating that the coin would not be taken out of circulation. These days however, the Peace Silver Dollar is a highly sought after coin.

Trade Dollar

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:53:45 +0000

The silver Trade Dollar was minted by the US Mint as a response to other nation’s large silver coins that circulated freely in the Far East. These coins were often counterstamped with small Chinese characters called ‘chop marks’. The chopmarks meant that the merchant had accepted the coin at its silver value and attests to the coins fineness. The Trade Dollar was designed by William Barber.

The coin features a seated Liberty on bales of cotton. She faces left toward the Orient. In her left hand she holds a ribbon inscribed with the word LIBERTY. In her right hand she holds up an olive branch that symbolizes peace. The 13 coins represent the 13 colonies.

On the reverse is a perched eagle with its wings raised. The eagle has a cluster of arrows in its talons and an olive branch to represent war and peace.

The Trade Dollar was minted from 1873 to 1885 in Philadelphia, Carson City and San Francisco. The business strikes ended in 1878. There were more Trade Dollars minted in San Francisco than Carson City and Philadelphia because San Francisco was close to the source of silver as well as to China-where the coins were heading.

The US Congress authorized the Mint to create the trade dollar to improve trade with the Orient and especially China. The Mexican peso was the primary silver coin used in trading with China prior. The eagle on the reverse of the Trade Dollar does look much like the peso’s.

China has produced some counterfeit Trade Dollars in recent times, trying to pass them off as originals.