The heads side (obverse) of the Eisenhower dollar was designed by Frank Gasparro, whose Lincoln Memorial motif was seen on the tails side (reverse) of the penny from 1959 through 2008. Eisenhower, who served as the 34th United States president from 1953 through 1961 and died in 1969 at the age of 78. The Eisenhower dollar pays tribute to Dwight D. When the 1971 Eisenhower dollar coins rolled off the presses at the United States Mint, they became the first dollar coins officially struck and released for circulation since 1935 - when the last Peace dollars were made. Here’s how to tell the rare and valuable 1971 silver dollars apart from the ones that are worth a little more than dollar… 1971 Eisenhower Dollar Coin Factsġ971 Eisenhower dollars opened a unique chapter in numismatic history! Some 1971 silver dollars are worth only a little more than their face value, while others are worth thousands of dollars. How much can you really get for your 1971 Ike dollars today? Have a 1971 Eisenhower silver dollar coin and want to know its value?