The 1978 silver dollar is a high-interest coin. Although it is not rare, the portrait of legendary Dwight D. Eisenhower makes the coin of great value amongst numismatists. It is especially true for uncirculated, mint state, and defective rarities.
So, if you have a 1978 silver dollar or want to add one to your collection, this is just the right place. In today’s post, we will discuss the 1978 silver dollar value in detail. We will also explain the varieties, grading system, history, and errors of these interesting coins.
Let’s get started!
1978 Silver Dollar Value Details
- Category: Eisenhower Dollars
- Mint: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco
- Mintage: 61,842,671
- Obverse Designer: Frank Gasparro
- Reverse Designer: Frank Gasparro
- Composition: Copper-Nickel Clad Copper
- Diameter: 38.1mm
- Edge: Reeded
- Weight: 22.68g
Also Read: Top 21 Most Valuable 2000 P Sacagawea Dollar Coin Worth Money
1978 Silver Dollar Value Chart
Mint Mark | Good | MS-50 | MS-60 | MS-67 | Proof |
1978 No Mint Mark Silver Dollar Value | $1.05 | $1.10 | $2 to $7 | $2500 to $6000 | – |
1978 “D” Mint Mark Silver Dollar Value | $1.05 | $1.10 | $2 to $7 | $6000 to $9250 | – |
1978 “S” Mint Mark Silver Dollar Value | – | – | – | – | $10 to $3450 |
Note: The 1978 (S) silver dollars were only minted for collectors. So, you can only find them in proof grades.
Also Read: Top 19 Most Valuable Morgan Dollars Worth Money
1978 Silver Dollar Value and Varieties
1978 No Mint Mark Silver Dollar
- Type: Eisenhower Dollar
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint Mark: No Mint Mark
- Place of Minting: Philadelphia
- Year of Minting: 1978
- Face Value: $1
- Price: $1.05 to $6000
- Quantity Produced: 25,702,000
- Designer: Frank Gasparro
- Composition: Copper-Nickel Clad Copper
- Mass: 22.68g
- Diameter: 38.1mm
If you find a 1978 silver dollar with no mint mark, it belongs to the Philadelphia mintage. These coins were struck in a total quantity of 25,702,000, which is the second biggest mintage in the 1978 silver dollar series.
Since these coins were largely circulated, it is difficult to find them in a well-preserved state. The majority of them are worn-out, faded, and badly damaged. So, the average value for a 1978 no-mint mark silver dollar is between $1.05 to $1.20.
However, uncirculated coins in mint condition have a much higher value. It’s because these coins weren’t used for commercial purposes. And so, they retain much of their original shine and aesthetic appeal.
For example, an MS-60 grade 1978 no-mint mark coin has a value of $2 to $7. Meanwhile, an MS-66 grade coin has a worth of $72+. This can easily turn into hundreds if you have multiple 1978 silver dollars in your collection.
But, first, you will need to consult a professional coin appraiser. We recommend this because the value increases drastically based on the condition, and only an expert can evaluate the vintage coin properly.
The most valuable 1978 no-mint mark silver dollars have an MS-67 grade. In terms of preservation, these coins are near perfect with minimal signs of wear. So, you can expect their prices to be in the thousands.
In 2022, a 1978 no-mint mark MS-67 silver dollar was auctioned for $5,500. PCGS has also graded seven coins at MS-67 with each one having an estimated worth of $6000!
1978 “D” Mint Mark Silver Dollar
- Type: Eisenhower Dollar
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint Mark: D
- Place of Minting: Denver
- Year of Minting: 1978
- Face Value: $1
- Price: $1.05 to $9,250
- Quantity Produced: 33,012,890
- Designer: Frank Gasparro
- Composition: Copper-Nickel Clad Copper
- Mass: 22.68g
- Diameter: 38.1mm
The Denver mint produced the largest number of 1978 silver dollars. It struck just over 33 million coins in the same composition as the Philadelphia mintage. But, these coins had a small D present under the portrait of Eisenhower.
Also, the purpose of these coins was solely to be in circulation. Almost all the coins were used in commercial and daily business activities. So, finding a 1978 D mint mark silver dollar in mint condition is very rare.
The value of a typical 1978 D mint mark coin is equal to its face value (that is $1). However, the ones in slightly good and fine condition can value up to $3. If you find an extremely fine coin, the price will be $7. Don’t expect the price of circulated coins to increase more than that.
Interestingly, when these coins were initially produced, some collectors kept them as specimens. So, while these coins weren’t minted for collection, you can still find a few uncirculated or minted state ones.
Their worth is typically in hundreds and thousands of dollars. At MS-66, a 1978 D mint mark silver dollar can fetch around $175. Go just one grade up, and you can get between $6000 to $9000 for an MS-67 grade coin.
PCGS has only graded four 1978 D silver dollars till now, and their realized value is $9,250 each!
1978 “S” Mint Mark Silver Dollar
- Type: Eisenhower Dollar
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint Mark: S
- Place of Minting: San Francisco
- Year of Minting: 1978
- Face Value: $1
- Price: $10 to $3450
- Quantity Produced: 3,127,781
- Designer: Frank Gasparro
- Composition: Copper-Nickel Clad Copper and 40% silver
- Mass: 22.68g
- Diameter: 38.1mm
The lowest quantity of 1978 silver dollars was produced at the Sans Francisco mint. A little more than 3 million coins were struck in proof grade. This means they are premium-quality coins that were manufactured using special dies and polished metal sheets.
Each coin also has a small S under Eisenhower’s image. So, you can easily differentiate a 1978 S mintmark proof silver dollar from other mint state coins.
However, while all of this might suggest that a 1978 S silver dollar is valuable, it is actually worth $10 to $50. This is because the coins were only available for sale to collectors and organizations.
Since people kept them in well-preserved condition, there is an abundance of proof grade 1978 silver dollars present today. Most 1978-proof silver dollars sell for $30. But, if you have rare varieties, you may still be able to get a better value. These include:
- 1978 S Proof Cameo Silver Dollar – the hair of Eisenhower has rich details.
- 1978 S Proof Deep Cameo Silver Dollar – the entire face of Eisenhower is more pronounced and detailed than other coins. You can see the hair, eyes, ears, and all other features perfectly defined.
Proof coins with errors are valued in thousands of dollars. A great example is the rainbow-toned 1978-S silver dollar (Proof 68 Deep Cameo). It was auctioned for $3,450 in September 2005.
1978 Silver Dollar History
The 1978 Silver Dollar is a special commemorative coin that was created to honor the life and legacy of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The coin was produced in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth, which occurred on October 14, 1890.
The idea for the commemorative coin came about in 1970 when the Eisenhower Commemorative Coin Act was passed by Congress. This act authorized the production of up to 150 million silver dollars, which were to be sold to the public to help fund the construction of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas.
The coin was designed by Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro, who had previously designed the reverse of the Kennedy half a dollar. The obverse of the coin features a left-facing portrait of Eisenhower, with the inscriptions “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER” surrounding the image.
The reverse of the coin features an eagle landing on the moon, with the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “ONE DOLLAR,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” surrounding the image.
The silver dollar was produced in both uncirculated and proof versions, with a total mintage of 4,908,319 uncirculated coins and 3,251,152 proof coins. The uncirculated coins were struck at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, while the proof coins were struck at the San Francisco Mint.
The coins were first made available for sale to the public on December 1, 1978, and were available for purchase until November 30, 1986. The original price for the coins was $10 for the uncirculated version and $15 for the proof version.
The proceeds from the sale of the coins were used to fund the construction of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, which was dedicated on May 1, 1971. The museum features a collection of artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of Eisenhower’s life and presidency.
The coin features a beautiful design and has become a popular item among coin collectors and history enthusiasts alike.
1978 Silver Dollar Grading
A standard grading system is used by all professional numismatists to evaluate the value of a coin. So, the 1978 silver dollar is no exception. You will use the same scale to determine the exact value of the coin.
Here’s a video to learn more about coin grading:
List of 1978 Silver Dollar Errors
1. 1978 Silver Dollar Broad struck
Broadstruck is a striking error that occurs when the coin collar is lost in the middle of the process. Since the collar holds the metal sheet in place, its absence causes the metal to spread and ooze out.
This results in a distorted rim. The design also enlarges and ends up too close to the rim in some places. 1978 silver dollars with broad struck error (mint state) sell for $100 to $125.
2. 1978 Silver Dollar Faulty Planchets
Planchet is the metal disc that is fed into the coin-striking machine. Occasionally, the metal sheet is defective. It has cladding missing from a few places or some other error. In this case, the coins struck are very unique and unusual.
There are some 1978 silver dollar specimens with this error too. One rare coin appeared to be made out of copper instead of silver and had missing details. It had a grade of MS-63, and was auctioned for an amazing $700!
3. 1978 Silver Dollar Brockage
This error happens when a previously minted coin becomes stuck to the die and then strikes the next blank – producing a mirrored image of the design. The resultant coin will have a regular side and a mirror image of the same design on the other side, or only part of the coin may have the brockage.
In 2009, an auction presented a 1978 silver dollar with a brockage error. During the striking process, the previous coin blocked some part of the obverse die. This resulted in a 10% brockage error. However, the coin was still graded as MS64 and sold for $750.
4. 1978 Silver Dollar Indented Strike
When a blank planchet bounces and is struck on the edge, it creates an indented strike that can result in a visible dent on the coin or cause it to become bent.
In 2016, an auction featured a 1978 dollar coin with a 10% indentation on the obverse side. The coin was evaluated by the PCGS and given an MS62 grading. Although the indentation was considered to be less remarkable compared to other indented strikes, the coin still managed to sell for nearly $180.
5. 1978 Multiple-Struck Dollar Coin Error
Many people confuse double-die errors with multiple-strike errors. However, they are quite different from each other.
Double-die coins result from an image being stamped twice, whereas multiple-strike errors occur when a coin is struck more than once. Multiple-strike errors are sporadic, and a 1978 dollar coin with this error is valued at over $1,000.
1978 Silver Dollar FAQs
Is the 1978 Silver Dollar Rare?
No, a 1978 silver dollar isn’t rare to find. There are plenty of coins available for sale and purchase. However, 1978 silver dollars in higher grades (like MS-65 and MS-70) are rare.
How Much Silver is in a 1978 Liberty Dollar?
The majority of 1978 liberty dollars feature copper-nickel clad composition. But, some high-grade coins were minted with 40% silver planchet.
What is a 1978 Silver Dollar Worth Today?
The worth of a 1978 silver dollar greatly depends on its condition and rarity. According to NGC, the price of a circulated 1978 silver dollar is around $1.05 to $1.50. But, an uncirculated coin in fine condition can sell for more than $6,000.