1978 Dollar Value:Eisenhower Clad Coins, D and S Proofs

Quick answer

Coin photos

Basics & coin story

The 1978 date marks the final year of the Eisenhower dollar series that began in 1971. The large coin honored President Dwight D. Eisenhower on the obverse and the Apollo 11 Moon landing on the reverse. Frank Gasparro’s adaptation of the mission insignia shows an eagle carrying an olive branch toward the lunar surface, with Earth above.

After the special Bicentennial Liberty Bell-and-Moon reverse, the original eagle design returned for 1977 and 1978. The single 1978 date and eagle are therefore normal. Earlier Eisenhower collector programs included silver versions, but those composition rules did not carry into the final two years.

PCGS records 25,702,000 Philadelphia regular strikes for 1978. The following year brought the smaller Susan B. Anthony dollar. Similar reverse imagery does not make the two designs the same size or issue; identify the portrait, date and dimensions before choosing a value guide. The Susan B. Anthony guide covers the replacement series.

Identification

Read no mark, D or S on the portrait side

The mint-letter area is below Eisenhower’s neck and above 1978. No letter is normal for Philadelphia and does not establish a missing-mark error. D identifies Denver; S identifies the collector Proof entry. A mint mark is not, by itself, a grade or a metal test.

“Silver dollar” can describe appearance rather than alloy

People often use the phrase for a large silver-colored dollar. The normal 1978 issue is clad, including the S Proof. Some earlier Eisenhower collector products contain 40% silver, but that is a different date-and-product comparison. A white edge, a reflective surface or an old envelope marked SILVER is not sufficient evidence for an off-metal 1978 coin.

Separate normal handling from a production error

Large open fields readily show contact marks. They can lower an uncirculated coin’s grade without making it a mint error. A nick, stain or plated surface should not be assigned a premium simply because the coin is large and old. A specific unusual strike or planchet claim requires the coin’s weight, both faces and the edge to be assessed together.

Condition & value

Amounts are in U.S. dollars. PCGS retail-guide examples were checked October 23, 2026 and apply only to the stated issue, grade and designation. They are not guaranteed purchase offers; current market conditions and selling costs can change the amount received.

Inspect the cheek, hair and large fields for friction and marks, then the eagle and lunar surface for handling. A coin can be uncirculated yet heavily marked; apparent sharpness is not enough to choose a high numerical grade. The grading guide explains the distinction between circulation wear, strike quality and Mint State contact marks.

Proofs use a separate grading context, often with Cameo or Deep Cameo contrast. Haze, hairlines and handling can affect a Proof without changing its manufacture. Compare the same mint, finish, numerical grade and contrast designation rather than using a record result or an especially expensive listing.

A retail reference for a modest-value coin can exceed what a dealer offers after costs. Use completed single-coin transactions and retain original collector packaging when relevant. Do not polish the surface to mimic Proof brilliance; see the cleaning guide. An unverified silver claim should be examined before either a premium purchase or a certification expense.

Summary

FAQ

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