The Complete Guide to the Presidential $1 Coin Program

The Presidential $1 Coin Program is a series of US dollar coins with images of US presidents with their tenure on the obverse side. Congress approved the program in 2005, and the first coins were made available in 2007 Coins honoring George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison were first included in the collection in 2007.

Coins representing Ronald Reagan, Gerald R. Ford, and Richard M. Nixon were issued in 2016 in honor of the end of the series. In 2020, a single coin was released in the series as a memorial to George H.W. Bush. In this article, we will discuss the complete guide to the Presidential $1 Coin Program.

What is the Presidential $1 Coin Program?

The program included minting coins with the obverse images of each of the four presidents each year, issuing one for three months before switching to the next in the sequence of their terms in office. A president needs to have passed away at least two years before the minting date to be eligible. It was known as the Presidential $1 Coin Program by the US Mint.

History and Purpose of the Program

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) is required by section 104 of the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-145) to present an annual report to Congress. This report must contain an evaluation of remaining obstacles to the timely and efficient circulation of $1 coins, as well as suggestions for legislative action that the Board might think suitable. The Board also works with representatives of the industry, the vending industry, and other organizations that recognize coins to encourage the acceptance of $1 coins, including highlighting the Most Valuable Presidential Dollar Coins to increase public interest in circulation.

Design and Features of Presidential $1 Coins

Every Presidential $1 Coin has the President’s image, name, rank, and years served on the obverse side of the coin. It includes the phrase “In God We Trust,” which dates to the year 2009. 

The words “United States of America” and “$1” are inscribed with an outstanding picture of the Statue of Liberty on the back. Since the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of liberty, the word “Liberty” is not necessary. The reverse was designed by U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Donald Everhart, but the obverse design was different.

To make more space for the artwork, the coins have inscriptions inscribed around the edges. These include the mint mark, the date, and the phrase “E Pluribus Unum.” The phrase “In God We Trust” also appears on the edge of coins struck in 2007 and 2008.

List of Presidential $1 Coins

1. George Washington (1789-1797)
2. John Adams (1797-1801)
3. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
4. James Madison (1809-1817)
5. James Monroe (1817-1825)
6. John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)
7. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
8. Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
9. William Henry Harrison (1841)
10. John Tyler (1841-1845)
11. James K. Polk (1845-1849)
12. Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)
13. Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
14. Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)
15. James Buchanan (1857-1861)
16. Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
17. Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)
18. Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)
19. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881)
20. James Garfield (1881)
21. Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885)
22. Grover Cleveland (1st term) (1885-1889)
23. Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)
24. Grover Cleveland (2nd term) (1893-1897)
25. William McKinley (1897-1901)
26. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)
27. William Howard Taft (1909-1913)
28. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
29. Warren G. Harding (1921-1923)
30. Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)
31. Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)
32. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
33. Harry S. Truman (1945-1953)
34. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)
35. John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
36. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
37. Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974)
38. Gerald Ford (1974-1977)
39. Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)
40. George H.W. Bush (1989-1993)

Coin Specifications and Production

Value: 1 U.S. dollar

Mass: 8.100 g (0.26 troy oz)

Diameter: 26.49 mm (1.043 in)

Thickness: 2.00 mm (0.0787 in)

Edge: Engraved with “E pluribus unum,” mint mark, year of issuance, and 13 five-pointed stars (before 2009: “In God We Trust”)

Composition: Copper with manganese brass cladding

• 88.5% Cu
• 6% Zn
• 3.5% Mn
• 2% Ni

Years of Minting:

• Circulation: 2007–2011
• Collectors Only: 2012–2016; 2020

Design

Obverse Design: Portrait of U.S. Presidents (first shown)

• Designer: Various
• Design Date: 2007–2016; 2020

Reverse Design: Statue of Liberty

• Designer: Don Everhart
• Design Date: 2007

Are Presidential $1 Coins Still in Circulation?

No, the United States Mint has not manufactured Presidential $1 coins for public circulation since December 2011, at which point they went out of circulation. These days, the Mint just mints these coins for collectors, who can place orders directly through the Mint.

Collector Value and Investment Potential

Because collectibles contribute to diversified portfolios away from the common stock market, they are often considered good alternative investments. Some even allow them to be held in IRAs. The value of a collection is mostly determined by its condition and the changing patterns of supply and demand, which is why using a coin value checker can help collectors stay updated on the current worth of their coins.

Notable Error Coins and Variations

Some notable errors in coins and variations of the Presidential $1 Coin Program have: 

• Missing edge lettering
• A 2007 George Washington dollar coin minted without edge lettering can be worth up to $2,000 if it’s in excellent condition. The best examples of this coin have a grade of MS68 and are valued at $4,250. 
• Overlapped edge lettering on the coin
• A 2007 John Adams Presidential Dollar coin run via the edge lettering machine double can keep three different variations:
  • Overlaid Position A: Both sets of edge lettering drive the same way but upside down about the obverse. 
  • Overlaid Position B: Both sets of edge lettering drive the same way but right side up about the obverse. 
  • Inverted: One set of edge words is upside down, and the other is right side up.
• Without the portrait and the Statue of Liberty
• A dollar coin with edge text was found in 2007; it missed the Statue of Liberty or a presidential picture.
• Quarter mules in Washington
• One of the few genuine accidental mule coins produced by the US Mint, this one dates back to 2000 and features the obverse of a state quarter erroneously minted on a few Sacagawea dollar coins.
• Pez Head: A George Washington dollar coin with obvious differences on the reverse as a result of excessive use on the die’s greatest edges.

How to Start Collecting Presidential $1 Coins

The Presidential $1 Coin Program was completed in 2016, but you can always contain other types of coins: 

• Purchase from banks: Look through bank coin rolls.
• Purchase from coin dealers: You can purchase or exchange coins with coin dealers, or you can get advice from a knowledgeable collector.
• Purchase at coin shows: Coin shows, both local and national, offer coins for purchase.
• Purchase at auctions: At auctions, one might find costly and rare coins.
• Purchase in flea markets and antique shows: These venues may have coins for sale, however, the coins may be “problem coins” or the prices may be exaggerated.
• Invest in a Presidential Dollars Coin Collecting Kit; some people think this is a fantastic way to showcase a collection and it comes with coins and a book.

Future of the Presidential $1 Coin Program

Vice President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner declared on December 13, 2011, that the minting of $1 coins for use by the public would end. The program’s future applications, beginning with Chester A. Arthur’s, would only be accessible to collectors in a limited number.

The amount of $1 coins in circulation at the end of 2022 was reduced to 888 million. It was estimated that the inventory would stay in place for approximately sixteen more years, or until 2038.

Conclusion

The Presidential $1 Coin Program detailed and attractive coins offer a special way of connecting with American history. With the program’s official end in 2016, the coins are still valued by collectors and important documents from history. 

Collecting these coins could provide valuable insight into the lives and achievements of previous presidents of the United States. Analyzing historical coins is an enjoyable way to pay respect to America’s past, whether you’re a professional numismatist or an amateur history lover.

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