GreatCollections auctioned a 1971‑S Eisenhower dollar prototype, catalogued as Judd‑2147, for $189,000 on October 18, 2026. The coin, originally purchased for under $10 at the Long Beach Coin Expo in 2008, is one of only three known specimens, featuring an early reverse design with extra lunar craters that was later altered for the regular issue.

Discovery and Provenance

Collector Lee C. Lydston spotted the unusual coin at the 2008 Long Beach Coin Expo and bought it for less than $10, noting irregularities in its appearance. The piece was later certified by PCGS as SP‑67 with CAC Green approval, making it the only CAC‑approved example of the prototype.

Design Significance

The reverse of the Judg‑2147 prototype displays additional lunar craters and a less detailed Earth, reflecting an early version of Mint Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro's design. The production Eisenhower dollar, minted from 1971 to 1978, ultimately featured an eagle landing on the Moon, while the prototype captures a design stage that never entered circulation.

Market History

The coin previously sold for $264,000 at a Heritage Auctions sale in January 2022, indicating a higher peak price. Its 2026 sale price of $189,000, while substantial, represents a decline from that earlier record. Two other Judg‑2147 examples have surfaced in similar low‑cost purchases: one in an Alabama pawn shop in 2010 for about $5 and another on eBay in 2013 for roughly $22, later certified as Specimen‑66.

What to Watch Next

Future auction results for the remaining Judg‑2147 specimens could further clarify the market ceiling for this rarity. Collectors and numismatic analysts will monitor whether the price trajectory stabilizes above the 2022 peak or continues to fluctuate with broader rare‑coin market trends.