1978-S Eisenhower Dollar Proof (Clad)
Proof struck at the San Francisco Mint · 3,127,781 made
- Mintage
- 3,127,781
- Metal
- Copper core clad in 75% copper / 25% nickel
- Weight
- 22.68 g
- Diameter
- 38.1 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip. Not a photograph of the actual coin.
Face value · Metal value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is a 1978-S Eisenhower Dollar Proof (Clad) worth?
Age alone gives this coin a small premium, even worn. Sharp details and original surfaces push it higher.
What would make yours worth more:
- Grade and, for proofs, strong cameo contrast
- A die variety or minting error
For market prices, check recent sold results for certified coins in the same grade.
Quick answers
- Is the 1978-S Eisenhower Dollar Proof (Clad) rare?
- Not especially. The Mint made 3,127,781 for collectors. Most were kept in their original packaging.
- Is the 1978-S Eisenhower Dollar Proof (Clad) silver?
- No. It's copper core clad in 75% copper / 25% nickel. Circulating silver dollars ended with the 1935 Peace dollar. Some Eisenhower dollars with an S mint mark were made in 40% silver for collectors, but circulation Ike dollars are copper-nickel clad.
- Where is the mint mark on a 1978 Eisenhower Dollar?
- On the obverse, below Eisenhower's portrait and above the date. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark. On this coin the mark is S, for San Francisco.
- How many 1978-S Eisenhower Dollar Proof (Clad) coins were made?
- 3,127,781.
What to check on your 1978-S
- Make sure the mint mark really is an S. A worn or filled mark can be misread. It's what separates your coin from the 1978 (26 million made).
- Judge the grade under good light. Look at Eisenhower's cheek and the hair above his ear and at the eagle's head and breast. These heavy coins picked up bag marks easily, so clean, mark-free surfaces matter as much as wear.
Proofs from 1978 come with and without frosted devices. Coins with strong contrast are labeled Cameo or Deep Cameo and are worth more.
The story of the 1978-S
The last years of the big dollar (1977 to 1978)
The Apollo reverse returned in 1977 for two final years. The coins were too large and heavy for everyday use outside casinos and some Western states and Congress replaced them with the smaller Susan B. Anthony dollar in 1979.
Mintages in these years were modest by clad standards and the coins that went into circulation mostly stayed there in casino trays. Clean uncirculated examples from mint sets are the usual way to complete a set of these dates.
Elsewhere in US coinage in 1978
The Eisenhower dollar was struck for the last time.
How to recognize it
Frank Gasparro's obverse shows Dwight D. Eisenhower facing left with LIBERTY above, IN GOD WE TRUST below his chin and the date at the bottom. The reverse is adapted from the Apollo 11 mission insignia: an eagle landing on the Moon with an olive branch in its talons, with the Earth above. Coins dated 1776-1976 replace it with Dennis Williams' Liberty Bell superimposed on the Moon. The mint mark is below the portrait, above the date.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Series | Eisenhower Dollar (1971–1978) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1978 |
| Mint | San Francisco Mint |
| Mint mark | "S" |
| Strike type | Proof |
| Mintage | 3,127,781 |
| Face value | $1 |
| Composition | Copper core clad in 75% copper / 25% nickel |
| Weight | 22.68 grams |
| Diameter | 38.1 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Designer | Frank Gasparro |
Other 1978 Eisenhower Dollar issues
| Coin | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 Eisenhower Dollar | 25,702,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 1978-D Eisenhower Dollar | 33,102,890 | Circulation strike | – |
| 1978-S Eisenhower Dollar Proof (Clad) | 3,127,781 | Proof | – |
Mintage: Eisenhower dollar (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from US Mint records and the Guide Book of United States Coins. How we build these pages.