1990-P Eisenhower Centennial Dollar Proof : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

The 1990 Eisenhower Centennial Commemorative Silver Dollar was the second United States coin struck to honor the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. The first, of course, was the circulating Eisenhower Dollar issued 1971 through 1978.

The commemorative coin was created by Public Law 100-467 (Act of October 3, 1988), which authorized the striking of up to four million silver dollars to honor the 100th anniversary of Eisenhower’s birth. The large mintage was typical for the early period of U.S. modern commemorative coinage, and the Act called for the use of silver from the United States Strategic Materials Stockpile. The issue did not sell out; instead, only 34.6% of the maximum mintage was sold.

A launch ceremony was held on January 16, 1990 at Eisenhower’s Gettysburg, Pennsylvania residence. At the event, United States Mint Director Donna Pope presented the coin to United States Treasurer Catalina Villalpando and Pennsylvania Congressman William F. Goodling (R-PA19). Goodling had sponsored the coin’s authorizing legislation in the House (H.R. 3654).

The 1990 Eisenhower Centennial Dollar was offered in two finishes (Proof and Uncirculated) at two price points. The 1990 Eisenhower Centennial Dollar Uncirculated coin had a pre-sale price of $23 ($41.85 when adjusted for inflation) and a regular price of $26 ($47.31). The Proof had a pre-sale price of $25 ($45.49) and a regular retail price of $29 ($52.77). The Uncirculated version was struck at the West Point Mint (Eisenhower graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1915) and the first silver dollar-sized issue to bear the “W” mintmark. The Proof version was struck at Philadelphia.

The Mint also offered the Proof version in its 1990 Prestige Proof Set. That set included the 1990 Eisenhower Proof coin plus one Proof example of each of that year’s “circulating coins”. The 1990 Prestige Proof Set was sold for $46 ($83.71) and was available from the Mint through the end of 1990.

How Much Is the 1990-P Eisenhower Centennial Dollar Proof Worth?

In its Original Government Packaging or raw form, the 1990-P Eisenhower Centennial Dollar Proof sells for a few dollars over the coin’s silver value. In a survey of January 2024 eBay sales, we saw prices range from $20 to $25 per coin. Collectors are willing to pay a small premium for coins certified by one of the three major grading services. Proof 69 with Deep Cameo/Ultra Cameo designation is the common grade for the issue. The retail price for an example in this grade is about $35 to $40.

It is much less common to find examples graded Proof 70. The grading services have not graded most of the availability inventory, so collectors should be aware that the future 70 population will increase, perhaps dramatically. That said, expect to pay $90 or more for a CAC, NGC, or PCGS top pop coin.

Some 1990-P Eisenhower dollars are toned. The example illustrated in this article is owned by CoinWeek Editor Charles Morgan and toned after years of storage in a Prestige Proof holder. This holder was not airtight, and chemical seepage from the fabric case and other environmental factors toned the silver coin. Attractively toned coins may bring a premium, but be wary of coins that have been doctored by sellers.

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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Top Population: PCGS PR70DCAM (425, 9/2024), NGC PF70UCAM (385, 9/2024), and CAC PR69DCAM (17, 9/2024).

• NGC PF70UCAM: eBay, August 16, 2024 – $89.88.
• NGC PF70UCAM #3680457-003: eBay, July 18, 2024 – $79.99.
• PCGS PR70DCAM #46684642: eBay, June 28, 2024 – $150.

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Design

Obverse:

Mint Engraver John Mercanti’s design features two overlapping portraits of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mercanti calls the design his “Janus Portrait”, referring to the Roman god of beginnings and transitions. The Eisenhower portrait in the foreground faces right and depicts Ike as president. The Eisenhower portrait in the background faces left and shows him as a five-star general, a rank Eisenhower achieved on December 20, 1944, at the height of World War II. Wrapping around the rim at the top of the design is the inscription EISENHOWER CENTENNIAL. The word LIBERTY appears below the chin of the left-facing portrait. The mintmark P appears below the “E” in LIBERTY. Below the chin of the right-facing portrait is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Wrapping around the rim at the bottom of the design is the dual-date 1890•1990. John Mercanti’s stylized initials JM appear to the right of LIBERTY on Eisenhower’s bust truncation.

Reverse:

The Eisenhower home is depicted in the center of the coin’s reverse. While Ike resided in a number of places during his adult life, this residence is located at 250 Eisenhower Farm Drive in Gettysburg. The Eisenhower’s purchased the 180-acre-plus farm site in 1950. After suffering a heart attack in 1955, the president presided over the country from here until his recovery allowed him to return to Washington.

Trees and shrubs surround the house. In the shrubbery in front of the chimney is a bell. To the bottom left of the house is the inscription EISENHOWER HOME. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA wraps clockwise around the rim at the top of the design. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is located below the house, oriented to the center-right of EISENHOWER HOME. The denomination ONE DOLLAR runs counterclockwise along the rim at the bottom of the design. Sculptor Marcel Jovine’s initials JOV appear in the shrubbery on the far left; reverse designer Chester Young Martin’s initials CYM appears in the shrubbery on the far right.

Edge:

The edge of the 1990-P Eisenhower Centennial Proof Dollar is reeded.

Designers

John Mercanti was named Chief Engraver of the United States Mint by Mint Director Edmund C. Moy on May 19, 2006. One of the most prolific coin designers in United States history, Mercanti is most known for his reverse design on the American Silver Eagle bullion coin (View Designer’s Profile).

Chester Y. Martin joined the Mint as a sculptor-engraver in 1986 and left in 1992.

Marcel Jovine was a notable toy designer and coin designer (View Designer’s Profile).

Coin Specifications

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