How can I tell if my Eisenhower dollar is silver? Eisenhower dollars are a popular collectible coin, but not all of them contain silver. If you have one and want to find out if it’s made from precious metal, there are some easy ways to tell.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Look for an “S” mint mark below the image on the back of the coin. An “S” mark means it was minted in San Francisco using 40% silver. The lack of a mint mark means it’s made from copper-nickel. Also, look at the date, those minted in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974 are made from copper-nickel clad.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to determine if your Eisenhower dollar contains silver, including identifiable features, weight specs, sound and magnet tests, and how to spot mint marks.
Background on the Eisenhower Silver Dollar
When and why they were created
The Eisenhower dollar coin was first minted in 1971 when the US Mint decided to honor former president Dwight D. Eisenhower. Production of the coins, which feature Eisenhower’s profile on the obverse, coincided with the 100th anniversary of his birth.
In addition to commemorating Eisenhower’s lifetime of public service, the new dollar coin was intended to address the need for an easier-to-handle dollar coin as an alternative to the paper dollar bill.
The large size and heavy weight of the Eisenhower dollar made it well-suited for vending machines and mass transit collection.
Silver content and specifications
The Eisenhower dollars minted from 1971-1974 contain no silver. These are sometimes called “brown Ikes” after their copper-nickel-clad composition.
However, in 1976 the US Mint issued a special bicentennial version of the Eisenhower dollar that did contain silver. These coins have a 40% silver content and 60% copper composition.
| Version | Silver Content | Specifications |
| Regular issue 1971-1974 | No silver copper | r-nickel clad, 38.1 mm diameter |
| Bicentennial issue 1975-1976 | 40% silver | 40% silver + 60% copper, 38.1 mm diameter |
The best way to determine if your Eisenhower dollar contains silver is to check the date and look for the “S” mint mark indicating it was struck at the San Francisco mint. All silver bicentennial coins have this mint mark.
Telling a Silver Eisenhower by Sight
Mintage years to look for
The key mintage years to look for when trying to identify a silver Eisenhower dollar are 1971 through 1974 and 1976. These were the only years that the U.S. Mint produced Eisenhower dollars containing 40% silver.
Specifically, you’ll want to look for an “S” mint mark indicating the coin was struck at the San Francisco mint.
Key date to note
One key date Eisenhower silver dollar to note is the 1972-S proof coin. Only 2.8 million proof Eisenhower dollars were minted in 1972 at the San Francisco mint. Of those, experts estimate only 1 million contain 40% silver.
So if you come across a 1972-S proof Eisenhower dollar, be sure to examine it closely as it could be quite valuable if authentic.
Here are a few tips for visually identifying a silver Eisenhower dollar:
- Check the edge – silver Eagles will have a copper-nickel clad edge while silver Ikes have a solid copper edge.
- Examine the surface – silver Ikes tend to tone and tarnish easier than clad coins revealing colorful hues.
- Listen to the sound – silver dollars have a distinct high-pitched “ring” when flipped, unlike clad coins.
Using tools like a magnet, scale, and coin calipers can also help determine silver content. When in doubt, consider professional grading or precious metal verification.
Test for Silver Content
Check the weight
The easiest way to check if your Eisenhower dollar contains any silver is to weigh it. Genuine silver Eisenhower dollars weigh 24.59 grams, while copper-nickel-clad versions only weigh 22.68 grams.
Get an accurate digital scale that measures down to the hundredth of a gram. Weigh your Eisenhower dollar and compare it to the weights above. If your coin weighs 24.59 grams or more, it likely contains 90% silver and 10% copper like the original versions.
Magnet Test
Another quick test is the magnet check. Silver is not magnetic, while the copper-nickel-clad versions will be weakly attracted to a magnet. Get a strong neodymium magnet and pass it over the coin’s surface.
If the magnet slides off easily at all points, your Eisenhower dollar is almost certainly the 90% silver variety minted from 1971-1974. The weaker copper-nickel-clad versions from 1975-1978 will cause the magnet to slightly stick.
Sound Test
You can also tell a silver Eisenhower dollar from a clad one by the different ringing sounds they make when tapped.
Flip your coin so it’s standing on its side and gently tap the edge with another coin or piece of metal. Listen closely to the tone.
Silver Eisenhower dollars have a clear, sustained, high-pitched ringing sound. The clad coins will make more of a dull thud noise in comparison.
Inspecting for a Mint Mark
Location to check
To determine if your Eisenhower dollar coin contains real silver, you need to inspect the coin closely for a mint mark. Mint marks are tiny letters printed on the coin indicating which U.S. mint facility struck the coin.
For Eisenhower dollars, the mint mark will be located on the obverse (front) side of the coin, near the bottom on the right side just below Eisenhower’s neck. You may need a magnifying glass to see the tiny lettering.
Mint marks to identify
There are two mint marks to look for that indicate a silver Eisenhower dollar:
- S – This stands for San Francisco. Any 1971-S or 1974-S Eisenhower dollar is made from 40% real silver.
- CC – Carson City. The famous “CC” mark indicates a coin struck at the former Carson City Mint. All CC dollars contain 90% pure silver no matter the date.
If your Ike dollar shows no mint mark at all, that means it was made at the Philadelphia mint and contains no silver – only copper-nickel. These are still collectible but have a lower value compared to the silver versions.
How Can I Tell If My Eisenhower Dollar Is Silver – Conclusion
By following the identification tips covered, you should have no trouble determining if your Eisenhower dollar contains the coveted 40% silver style minted in San Francisco. From visual inspections to various verification tests, this guide breaks down all you need to separate valuable silver dollars from normal clad circulation strikes.
We covered when silver Ike dollars were made, how to test purity levels through weighing, magnetism, and ringing sound checks, plus what mint marks signify silver content versus copper-nickel. Now just grab a coin, magnifying glass, small scale, magnet, and tap surface—happy hunting!
