The Eisenhower Dollar was introduced in 1971 to honor President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had passed away a few years earlier (1969). The obverse features the president's profile, while the reverse celebrates the first lunar landing. Mr. Gasparro's rendition of the Apollo 11 insignia shows the bald eagle landing on the crater-pocked surface of the moon, an olive branch clutched in both claws.
The receding earth appears above the eagle's head and below the motto "E Pluribus Unum,". The 13 stars represent the first states of the Union. Circling the coin are the words "United States of America" and "one dollar." The designer's initials, F.G., appear at the right below the eagle's tail feathers and on the obverse at the truncation of the bust.
The 1972 Ike Dollar comes in three distinct reverse types, with the 1972 Type 2 Dollar being the rarest and key date in the Eisenhower Dollar Series.
- Type 1 or low relief reverse type features the Earth with three islands falling to the right of Florida.
- Type 2 or "Proof" reverse has been flattened with little relief on North and South America. Instead of islands, incuse water lines hint at their appearance.
- Type 3 can be distinguished by the islands falling directly below Florida.
Mintage:
| Philadelphia | Denver | Silver | Silver Proof |
| 75,890,000 | 92,548,511 | 2,193,056 | 1,811,631 |
Cents
