- (month unknown)
- In a private sale, an 1894-S dime sells for $97,000. [303.65]
- At the auction of the Great Eastern Numismatic Association convention, a 1792 silver center cent pattern sells for $105,000. [173.64]
- July 31
- Congress passes legislation giving the president authority to legalize private ownership of gold. [50.62]
- August 8
- Mary Brooks takes oath of office for second five-year term as Mint Director. [180.54]
- August 14
- US President Gerald Ford signs legislation giving him the authority to legalize private ownership of gold. [50.62] [385.2312]
- October 11
- Congress grants the US Treasury Secretary authority to change the copper and zinc composition of the cent if necessary due to rising base metal prices. The authority is effective through the end of 1977. [57.91] [86.97] [125.34] [425.126] [441.844]
- November 13
- US Mint Director Mary Brooks presents President Gerald Ford with a specimen set of Bicentennial coins. [69.66] [129.38]
- December 26
- Congress authorizes simultaneous striking of regular-dated coin and Bicentennial (1976-dated) coins. [190.24] [337.52] [441.844]
- December 30
- Congress allows private ownership of gold. [337.52]
- December 31
- US President Gerald Ford issues Executive Order 11825 legalizing private ownership of gold. [14.12] [50.62]
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1975
- March
- Production of Eisenhower bicentennial dollars is stopped, after about 14 million have been produced, to alter dies to improve strike. [161.48]
- James A. Stack auctions a 1873-CC quarter dollar, no arrows, for $80,000. [162.102]
- April 23
- The US Mint begins coinage of quarter dollars dated 1876-1976 for circulation. [418.41]
- May 12
- Research Triangle Institute is awarded $107,706 contract to conduct comprehensive review of US coinage requirements to year 1990. [157.78]
- July 3
- The US Mint ceases production of 25-cent, 50-cent, and $1 coins dated 1974. [168.94]
- July 7
- US Mint unveils 1776-1997-dated Bicentennial half dollar to public in Minneapolis. [115.36]
- July 8
- The US Mint releases 1776-1976 Bicentennial quarter dollars to circulation. [115.36] [418.41]
- July
- Production of Eisenhower bicentennial dollars resumes with dies altered to improve strike. [161.48]
- October 14
- The US Mint releases 1976 Bicentennial dollars to circulation. [58.68] [140.36] (October 13 [362.40])
1976
- January 27
- The Redfield hoard of 407,283 Morgan and Peace silver dollars is sold at public auction for US$7.3 million to A-Mark Coin Company. [50.171] (January 26 [153.68]) (January 30 [380.4])
- May 12
- World Wide Coin Investment sells its 1913 Liberty Head 5-cent to A-Mark Coin of Beverly Hills, California for US$135,000. [218.36]
- June 24
- The last 40 percent silver Bicentennial coins are struck. [113.40]
- (month unknown)
- US Treasury publishes A New Smaller Dollar Coin: Technical Considerations. [22.20]
- Quote by David L. Ganz in August issue of COINage magazine: "Elimination of the penny [cent], the oldest continually circulating coin in America, is inevitable within this very decade." [157.33]
- September
- The Research Triangle Institute publishes its report commissioned by the Carter administration on the nation's coinage with recommendations for the future. Some recommendations are elimination of one-cent and fifty-cent coins, introduction of two-cent coin, and reduce the size of the dollar coin to 26.5mm and use it to replace the $1 paper note. [22.20] [171.43] [180.48]
- December
- The International Numismatic Society Authentication Bureau begins third-party grading of coins for a fee, issuing a numbered photo certificate of authenticity, plus a certificate bearing the coin's grade. [86.106]
1977
- February 11
- Mary T. Brooks resigns as Mint Director, 2.5 years into her 5-year term. [180.54] [186.110] [210.18]
- July 6
- US Mint technicians declare 1977/6 cents to be fakes, reversing their earlier opinion. [66.46]
- November 18
- The American Numismatic Association unveils its Official Grading Standards for U.S. Coins. [70.64]
- December
- Whitman Publishing Company publishes The Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for United States Coins, incorporating the 1 to 70 numerical grading scale. [50.84]
- December 28
- Stella Hackel, attorney from Vermont, is sworn in as US Mint Director. [186.110]
- December 31
- The Mint Act provision for alternate alloy for cent expires. [179.69]
1978
- April 6
- Jesse Helms proposes in Congress that if government sells gold reserves, it should include medallions in size suitable for sale to average citizens. [160.69]
- April
- Secretary of the Treasury Michael Blumenthal recommends to Congress that the Eisenhower dollar be replaced by a smaller dollar coin slightly larger in diameter than the quarter dollar, and to replace the Eisenhower design with a Liberty Head. [22.20]
- May 1
- Walter Fauntroy of the District of Columbia introduces H.R. 12444, proposing a dollar coin reduced in size and weight, and with a new design. [50.224]
- May 3
- Senator William Proxmire of Wisconsin introduces legislation proposing a smaller dollar coin, bearing the portrait of Susan B. Anthony. [22.20]
- May 25
- Representative James A. Leach introduces a bill calling for a Susan B. Anthony - Harriet Tubman dollar coin. [29.60] [365.28]
- June 8
- The 1974 regulation banning melting of cents is rescinded. [307.64]
- June 16
- (to June 17) Stack's conducts the "Lighthouse" auction. An 1879 $4 gold Stella pattern, coiled hari, sells for $90,000. [218.25]
- (month unknown)
- World Wide Investments sells the Olsen specimen of the 1913 Liberty Head nickel to Dr. Jerry Buss for $200,000. [146.22]
- A unique 1870-S half dime sells at auction for $425,000. [186.48]
- Rare Coin Company of America auctions a 1825/4 Capped Head gold half eagle, Evenly Spaced Date, for US$140,000. [94.85]
- July 21
- Representative James A.S. Leach of Iowa introduces a bill in the House of Representatives calling for a Susan B. Anthony dollar coin. [160.69]
- August 22
- US Senate passes Susan B. Anthony dollar legislation. [122.32] [446.1127]
- September 26
- The Commission of Fine Arts approves Frank Gasparro's Susan B. Anthony dollar coin designs. [110.40]
- The US Congress passes the Susan B. Anthony dollar legislation by vote of 368 to 38. [50.224] [165.12] [446.1127]
- October 10
- US President Jimmy Carter signs Public Law 95-447, amending the Coinage Act of 1965, changing the size, weight, and design of the dollar coin, specifying that the coin depict Susan B. Anthony. [22.20] [50.224] [57.91] [139.48] [161.42] [165.12] [179.116] [180.42] [291.78] [441.845] [446.1123]
- October 15
- The US Congress passes the financial instutions reform legislation, including legislation for gold 1/2- and 1-ounce medallions. [160.70]
- December 1
- Stack's auctions the Harold S. Bareford Collection of US Gold Coins. Total sale is $1.2 million in 242 lots. Some highlights:
- 1933 eagle: $92,500;
- 1855 gold dollar, Proof, one of six known: $46,000;
- 1862 double eagle, gem uncirculated: $25,000.
[160.98] [161.60]
- December 13
- The US Mint at Philadelphia makes ceremonial first strikes of the Susan Anthony dollar coins for circulation. [6] [50.224] [144.64] [161.33] [335.40] [446.1127] (December 18 [180.42])
1979
- January 9
- The US Mint at Denver begins striking Susan Anthony dollar coins for circulation. [446.1127]
- February 2
- San Francisco Assay Office begins striking Susan Anthony dollars. [87.72] [446.1127]
- February
- Superior Stamp and Coin Company of California sells the Idler specimen of the 1804 dollar for $200,000. [174.28] [220.3]
- February 20
- The San Francisco Assay Office begins coining Susan Anthony dollars. [345.46]
- February 22
- Last ever meeting of annual Assay Commission at US Mint in Philadelphia. [163.58]
- (month unknown)
- Stack's auctions coins of the Robison Collection, including a 1883 Proof double eagle for $39,000, and a 1885 Proof double eagle for $26,000. [162.102]
- March 1
- ANACS begins offering coin grading, issuing a numbered certificate declaring authenticity with photographs of obverse and reverse of the coin, with separate grades for both. [86.106] [289.70]
- March 7
- US President Jimmy Carter signs legislation authorizing sale of almost 1 million silver dollar coins. [168.80]
- March 15
- Senator James A. McClure of Idaho introduces S. 682 Historic Coin Preservation Act in the US Senate, to require Mint to send to Smithsonian at least two of each pattern, experimental, trial strikes for permanent inclusion in national coin cabinet. [164.40]
- March
- The General Services Administration resumes selling government-held Morgan silver dollars to the public, for fixed prices. [50.213]
- April
- Some Susan Anthony dollar coins leak to the public ahead of official release date. [291.190]
- (month unknown)
- Stack's of New York sells a 1907 gold eagle with rolled edges and periods in BU condition for $45,000. [164.92]
- May 18
- The book The Buffalo Nickel, written by Annette Cohen and Ray Druley, is published. [34.84]
- May 31
- Representative William S. Broomfield of Michigan introduces a bill in the House of Representatives to provide for issuance of gold coins. [220.54]
- (month unknown)
- Superior Stamp and Coin sellsan 1894-S Proof dime for $135,000 in a private sale. [220.3]
- June 6
- Representative Jack B. Brooks of Texas introduces legislation to eliminate the coin Assay Commission. [50.95]
- June 13
- Wachovia Bank and Trust of Durham, North Carolina, unintentionally releases 300-500 Susan Anthony dollar coins to circulation. [220.18]
- June 22
- Stack's of New York sells a 1907 double eagle Ultra High Relief for $225,000, a record for a gold coin at public auction. Also 1920-S eagle for $85,000, and 1910-D half-eagle for $25,000. [167.38,90] [172.60]
- June 29
- The Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank stages dollar press conference. [38.60]
- (month unknown)
- New York coin dealer Lester Merkin sells the King of Siam Proof Set to Elvin Unterman of California for an estimated $1 million. [199.10]
- July 2
- The US Mint releases the new Susan B. Anthony dollar coin to circulation. [39.56] [61.58] [161.33] [171.80] [291.190]
- Quote by US Mint Director Stella Hackel on introduction of new dollar coin: "We are determined that this coin will not go the way of the Kennedy half dollar: the Kennedy half dollar has not been a success." [167.42]
- July 5
- US Mint Director Stella Hackel announces plans to add "P" mint mark for Philadelphia Mint on all coins except cent, and use no mint marks for any cents in 1980. [180.54]
- July 26
- (to July 27) In Saint Louis, Missouri, Auction '79 is held by four large coin companies: Paramount, Rare Coin Company of America, Stack's, and Superior. Some highlights:
- 1787 Brasher gold doubloon pattern, one of seven known: $430,000, bought by Walter Perschke, president of Numisco coin brokerage form in Chicago;
- 1849-C $1 gold, EF: $90,000, record for US gold dollar;
- 1838-O 50-cent, Proof 60: $62,500;
- 1854-O $20, EF: $45,000;
- 1920-S $10, MS-64: $44,000;
- 1828 $5, MS-65: $110,000;
- 1880 $4, flowing hair, Proof: $50,000;
- Canada 1911 $1 pattern: $160,000, bought by Tony Carrato of Niagara, Ontario.
[164.40] [166.30] [167.38] [168.62] [169.80] [220.6] [222.32]
- September 4
- The US Mint begins sales of uncirculated 1979 coin sets; issue price is $8 for 12 coins. [221.12]
- (month unknown)
- Representative Ron Paul of Texas introduces the Gold Ownership Act of 1979 in the House of Representatives, seeking to remove from Treasury ability to confiscate gold from American citizens. [173.85]
- November 28
- (to November 29) Bowers and Ruddy Galleries holds the first auction session of The John Work Garrett Collection in New York. 622 lots sell for $7.1 million. Some highlights:
- 1787 Brasher doubloon gold pattern, "EB" punch on wing, MS-63, finest known: $725,000;
- 1783 Nova Constellatio Mark, MS-60: $190,000;
- 1783 Nova Constellatio Quint (500 cents) pattern, MS-65: $165,000;
- 1829 half eagle, large planchet, MS-65: $165,000;
- 1815 half eagle, AU-55: $150,000;
- 1793 1-cent, chain, "AMERICA", MS-63: $115,000, a record for any copper coin;
- 1879 $4 gold pattern, coiled hair, Proof: $115,000;
- 1798 $5 gold, small eagle, EF-40: $110,000.
[124.78] [167.41] [173.10] [179.33] [181.26] [222.32] [333.104] [478.42]
- December 7
- (to December 8) Stack's conducts a coin auction in New York City. A 1907 $20 gold, Saint Gaudens, Arabic numbers, matte Proof, sells for $75,000. [222.26]
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