1776-1976 Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar: Type 1, Type 2 and Value Guide

No date in the Eisenhower dollar series carries more going on at once than 1776–1976. It replaces the nonexistent plain 1975 date with a special dual-year Bicentennial design, swaps out the familiar moon-landing reverse for a one-time-only image of the Liberty Bell superimposed on the moon, and does all of that across two distinct lettering styles that collectors still sort by hand today. It’s also home to the closest thing this series has to a legendary rarity. GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place, compare available examples, and create a wishlist alert when the right coin is not currently listed.

Design and history

As the nation’s 200th anniversary approached, Congress authorized a special dual date — 1776–1976 — for the quarter, half dollar, and dollar, along with unique Bicentennial reverse designs for each denomination, in place of a normal single-year 1975 or 1976 date. For the dollar, the Mint held a public design competition for the new reverse; 18-year-old art student Dennis R. Williams won it with a depiction of the Liberty Bell superimposed against the surface of the moon, tying the nation’s founding directly to the same Apollo-era imagery that had defined the series since 1971. Frank Gasparro, the Mint’s chief engraver and designer of the standard Eisenhower obverse and eagle-landing reverse, adapted Williams’s winning concept for actual coinage. This altered reverse and the dual date are official, authorized design features — not errors of any kind, despite how unusual they look next to every other year in the series. The 1976 Bicentennial quarter carries the same dual date and the same congressional mandate, applied to a completely different reverse design by Jack L. Ahr; collectors chasing one Bicentennial coin very often end up chasing all three denominations.

Philadelphia and Denver struck copper-nickel clad Bicentennial dollars for circulation at the series’ standard 22.68 grams, 38.1mm, with a reeded edge. San Francisco struck 40% silver Bicentennial dollars for collectors, about 24.59 grams at the same diameter and edge style, in both uncirculated and proof finish, sold directly rather than released into commerce.

Errors and varieties to know

The defining collectible feature of this date is the split between Type 1 and Type 2 reverse lettering:

• Type 1 has bold, thick lettering with more squared letterforms in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR.
• Type 2 has thinner lettering with sharper, more delicate serifs on the same inscriptions.

Both Philadelphia and Denver struck clad business strikes in both types, and San Francisco struck clad proofs in both types as well. The 40% silver Bicentennial dollars, made only at San Francisco in uncirculated and proof format, normally carry the Type 1-style bold lettering — but exact product-by-product attribution is worth confirming against a reliable catalog rather than assumed from the general rule. Some early Type 1 clad strikes were produced before Congress finalized the dual-date requirement and are dated simply “1976” without the “1776–” prefix; this single-date Type 1 variant is a recognized part of the series’ early production story, distinct from the standard dual-dated coins.

The date’s singular rarity is the 1976 Type 2 No S silver proof — a coin PCGS describes as probably the rarest non-error modern U.S. coin. It combines proof manufacture, 40% silver-clad composition, and the Type 2 reverse, but carries no S mint mark at all, even though every regular San Francisco proof from this era should show one. Because an ordinary Philadelphia Type 2 business strike also lacks a mint mark, the “No S” designation only becomes meaningful once a coin is independently confirmed to be a genuine silver proof — the composition and finish are what make the missing mint mark significant, not the missing letter by itself. Only a single confirmed example is known, and its full story — including how it turned up in circulation and what it has sold for — is covered in this dedicated guide to the 1976 No-S Type 2 proof Eisenhower dollar. Given the value involved, any coin offered as an example of this variety demands extraordinary scrutiny and should be checked directly against known certification and pedigree records before being taken seriously — the same caution that applies to any high-premium claim, as covered in this reference guide to documented counterfeit and altered U.S. coins.

Large clips and other one-off striking errors are individually documented for this date, but each needs its own evaluation — they’re unrelated to the regular Type 1/Type 2 hub differences, which are intentional variety features rather than mint mistakes.

How to examine a 1976 Eisenhower dollar

• Check the date first: dual “1776–1976,” or, on some early Type 1 clad strikes, a single “1976” without the dual-date prefix.
• Examine UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR under magnification to sort Type 1 (bold, thick, squared letters) from Type 2 (thinner, sharper serifs).
• Confirm mint mark and composition together — an S mint mark plus silver-clad weight indicates a San Francisco collector coin; a missing mint mark on a silver-clad Type 2 proof is the extraordinarily rare combination that needs top-tier authentication, not a routine attribution.
• Weigh the coin: clad near 22.68 grams, silver near 24.59 grams.
• Treat any claimed large clip or major striking error as an individual case requiring its own certified documentation, rather than assuming it fits a known pattern.
• Never clean a candidate coin, and never accept a “No S” claim on photos alone.

Buying considerations

Certified versus raw coins

For the standard Type 1 and Type 2 clad and silver Bicentennial dollars, certification is optional but helpful for confirming type attribution at a glance. For anything claimed as the No S Type 2 silver proof, certification isn’t optional — it’s the only responsible way to evaluate such a claim at all.

Understanding grades and condition

Both reverse types are common enough in clad form that condition, rather than type alone, drives most price differences at the Mint State level. Silver uncirculated and proof coins were sold directly to collectors and generally survive in better condition than clad circulation strikes, which show typical bag marks on the open fields and Eisenhower’s cheek.

Problem coins

As with other Ike dollar years, cleaned or environmentally toned clad examples circulate among older holdings. Because Bicentennial dollars were widely saved as a novelty at the time, there’s also a larger-than-usual supply of well-preserved examples to choose from if you’d rather avoid a problem coin altogether.

Suggested search terms and filters

Start broad: “1776 1976 Eisenhower dollar,” “1976 Bicentennial dollar Type 1,” “1976 Bicentennial dollar Type 2,” or “1976-S silver Eisenhower dollar.”

Then narrow by:

• Mint: Philadelphia (no mark), D (Denver), or S (San Francisco)
• Reverse type: Type 1 (bold lettering) or Type 2 (thin lettering)
• Composition: copper-nickel clad or 40% silver
• Finish: business strike, uncirculated collector issue, or proof
• Certification: PCGS, NGC, or raw

Availability and pricing notes

Ordinary clad Bicentennial dollars, in either type, are common and inexpensive at circulated and typical Mint State grades — they were struck and saved in enormous numbers as a novelty coin. Type 2 clad coins generally carry a modest premium over Type 1 simply for being somewhat less commonly encountered, though both are readily available. Silver 40% uncirculated and proof coins trade at levels tied to their silver content and collector-issue status. The Type 2 No S silver proof exists outside any normal market — its value is set by rare, individually negotiated sales rather than routine comparables. Compare completed sales for the exact type, mint, composition, and finish before assuming an asking price is representative.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that every listing is authentic, accurately graded, or fairly priced. Authentication, grading, pricing, return policies, and fulfillment remain the responsibility of the dealer or marketplace offering the coin.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin. Enter “1976 Eisenhower Dollar” to search participating dealer inventory.
2. Review the available matches. Compare listings by reverse type, mint, composition, finish, and price.
3. Add the search to your wishlist. If the right example isn’t available, save “1976 Eisenhower Dollar” as a wishlist item, noting type or composition preferences.
4. Get notified about new matches. GetCoinHunt sends an alert when new dealer inventory matches your wishlist.
5. Evaluate the coin before buying. Verify certification and photographs, read the full listing, and review the seller’s terms.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the reverse look different in 1976?

The Mint held a public design competition for a special Bicentennial reverse, won by 18-year-old Dennis R. Williams with a design showing the Liberty Bell superimposed on the moon, replacing the standard eagle-landing reverse for this date only.

What’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2?

Type 1 has bold, thick reverse lettering with squared letterforms; Type 2 has thinner lettering with sharper, more delicate serifs. Both types exist across clad business strikes and clad proofs.

Is there a Bicentennial dollar dated just “1976” without “1776”?

Yes — some early Type 1 clad strikes were produced before Congress finalized the dual-date requirement and carry a single “1976” date rather than “1776–1976.”

What is the No S Type 2 silver proof?

A unique, extraordinarily rare coin combining 40% silver-clad proof manufacture with the Type 2 reverse and no S mint mark, despite all regular San Francisco proofs from this era carrying one. Only one confirmed example is known.

What if no suitable coin is currently available?

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