A Comprehensive Guide to Presidential Dollar Coins

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USA Presidential Office
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The Presidential Dollar Coin program was launched in 2007 to honor the former Presidents of the United States.

The program features four Presidents per year, with the first series honoring George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt.

These coins are minted by the United States Mint and are made of a copper-clad coin with a diameter of 1.043 inches and a weight of 8.96 grams.

Each coin features the President's portrait on the obverse (front) side and a representation of the Statue of Liberty on the reverse (back) side.

History and Production

The presidential dollars have a fascinating history that dates back to 2007, when the Presidential $1 Coin Program was launched by the US Mint.

The program aimed to honor the nation's presidents with a new dollar coin design every quarter. The coins were produced at the Philadelphia Mint and the Denver Mint.

Each coin featured a portrait of the president on the obverse side and a vignette representing their life and accomplishments on the reverse side.

Legislative History

Sculptures of USA Presidents at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Credit: pexels.com, Sculptures of USA Presidents at Mount Rushmore National Memorial

The Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 was introduced on May 17, 2005, by Senator John E. Sununu with over 70 co-sponsors.

This marked the beginning of a significant legislative process that would eventually lead to the creation of the Presidential dollar coin series. The bill was reported favorably out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs without amendment on July 29, 2005.

The Senate passed the bill with a technical amendment (S.Amdt. 2676) by unanimous consent on November 18, 2005. This amendment was a crucial step in the bill's progression through Congress.

The House of Representatives passed the bill on December 13, 2005, with a vote of 291-113. A similar bill, H.R. 902, had previously passed in the House, but it was the Senate bill that was passed by both chambers.

The enrolled bill was presented to President George W. Bush on December 15, 2005, and he signed it into law on December 22, 2005.

Program Details

High angle composition of Ox year symbol figurine and wrapped presents placed on mirrored table with coins and rolled and tied dollar banknotes
Credit: pexels.com, High angle composition of Ox year symbol figurine and wrapped presents placed on mirrored table with coins and rolled and tied dollar banknotes

The program was first introduced in 1958, a time of great technological innovation.

It was created by a team of engineers at the University of California, who were determined to develop a computer that could be used for a variety of tasks.

The program was initially designed to perform calculations for the US Navy, but it quickly became clear that its potential went far beyond that.

It was the first commercially available computer program, and it paved the way for the development of many other programs that followed.

The program was written in assembly language, which was the primary programming language of the time.

It used a combination of magnetic tapes and punch cards to store and retrieve data.

The program was incredibly influential, and it played a key role in the development of the computer industry as we know it today.

It was used in a variety of applications, including weather forecasting and scientific research.

The program was eventually replaced by more advanced systems, but its legacy continued to be felt for many years.

It remained in use for over a decade, a testament to its durability and versatility.

Treasury Suspends Production

Detailed image of stacked silver US quarter coins showing engraved design.
Credit: pexels.com, Detailed image of stacked silver US quarter coins showing engraved design.

The Treasury Department made a significant decision in 2011 to save taxpayers some money. The department announced that it would be suspending almost all production of presidential dollar coins.

This move was expected to save taxpayers $50 million a year. The savings were a direct result of the production halt.

Minting Errors

Minting errors can be quite fascinating, and the George Washington Presidential dollars have had their fair share of mistakes. On February 15, 2007, an unknown number of these coins were released into circulation without their edge inscriptions.

Ron Guth, of the Professional Coin Grading Service, estimated at least 50,000 coins were released without the edge inscriptions. The first such coin discovered was sold on eBay for $600.

The John Adams Presidential dollars have also been discovered with plain edges, making them rarer and more expensive. These coins are fewer in quantity than George Washington plain-edge dollars.

A more frequently encountered edge lettering error for the John Adams dollar is a coin with doubled edge lettering. This error occurs when a coin passes through the edge lettering machine twice.

Credit: youtube.com, 2007 Presidential Dollar Coin Errors Worth Money!

Most examples of the doubled-edge-letter John Adams dollar are from the Philadelphia Mint, while Denver Mint issues are comparatively scarce. They are seen in two varieties: with both edge lettering inscriptions reading in the same direction, called "overlapped", and with the two inscriptions running in opposite directions, called "inverted".

In early March 2007, a Colorado couple found a dollar coin which had not been struck with a die pair, but with edge lettering on the otherwise-blank planchet.

Coin Details

The presidential dollars are a series of commemorative coins issued by the US Mint to honor the nation's presidents.

Each coin is a $1 coin, made of a copper-clad coin with a diameter of 1.043 inches and a thickness of 0.079 inches.

The obverse of the coin features a portrait of the president being honored, while the reverse features a vignette related to the president's life or legacy.

The coins are made of a combination of copper, zinc, and manganese, with a copper-plated coating to give them a distinctive golden color.

The $1 coins have a reeded edge, which is a textured edge that helps to distinguish them from other coins.

Yearly Information

Detailed image of US dollars and coins spread with a red wallet on a white surface, ideal for financial concepts.
Credit: pexels.com, Detailed image of US dollars and coins spread with a red wallet on a white surface, ideal for financial concepts.

The mintages of Presidential Dollars varied greatly from year to year. In 2007, the mintage for the George Washington dollar was 176,680,000, while in 2015, the mintage for the Harry S. Truman dollar was a mere 4,900,000.

Some years saw a significant difference in mintages between the P and D versions of the same dollar. For example, in 2009, the P version of the William Henry Harrison dollar had a mintage of 43,260,000, while the D version had a mintage of 55,160,000.

Here's a breakdown of the mintages for each year:

2007

In 2007, the Presidential Dollar series was released, featuring four different presidents: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.

The mintage numbers for these coins are quite interesting, with the 2007-P George Washington coin having a mintage of 176,680,000.

The 2007-S Proof coins were produced in very high numbers, with each of the four presidents' coins having a mintage of 3,965,989.

Here's a breakdown of the mintage numbers for each of the 2007 Presidential Dollar coins:

2008

Rashtrapati Bhavan - Presidential Palace in New Delhi, India
Credit: pexels.com, Rashtrapati Bhavan - Presidential Palace in New Delhi, India

In 2008, the Presidential Dollar program issued coins featuring four U.S. presidents: James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van Buren.

The mintage numbers for these coins varied by mint and finish. The Philadelphia mint produced the most coins, with the James Monroe coin having a mintage of 64,260,000.

The Denver mint also produced a large number of coins, with the James Monroe coin having a mintage of 60,230,000.

The San Francisco mint produced proof coins, which had a standard mintage of 3,083,940 for each of the four presidents.

Here's a breakdown of the mintage numbers for the 2008 Presidential Dollar coins:

The mintage numbers give us a glimpse into the popularity of each president's coin.

2009

In 2009, the Presidential Dollar Mintages were quite impressive. The 2009-P William Henry Harrison coin had a mintage of 43,260,000.

The mintages for the different Presidential Dollar coins varied. The 2009-P John Tyler coin, for example, had a mintage of 43,540,000.

A person counts US dollars at a wooden table with a laptop, candle, and coins in view, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Credit: pexels.com, A person counts US dollars at a wooden table with a laptop, candle, and coins in view, creating a cozy atmosphere.

A total of four Presidential Dollar coins were minted in 2009. These were the William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk, and Zachary Taylor coins.

Here's a breakdown of the mintages for each of these coins:

The Proof versions of these coins had a much lower mintage, with 2,809,452 coins minted for each of the three Proof coins.

2010

2010 was a notable year for Presidential Dollar mintages.

The 2010-P Millard Fillmore had a mintage of 37,520,000.

The 2010-D Millard Fillmore had a slightly lower mintage of 36,960,000.

The 2010-S Proof Millard Fillmore and 2010-S Proof Franklin Pierce and 2010-S Proof James Buchanan all had the same mintage of 2,224,613.

The 2010-P Franklin Pierce and 2010-D Franklin Pierce had mintages of 38,220,000 and 38,360,000, respectively.

The 2010-P James Buchanan had a mintage of 36,820,000.

The 2010-D James Buchanan had a mintage of 36,540,000.

The 2010-P Abraham Lincoln had a significantly higher mintage of 49,000,000.

The 2010-D Abraham Lincoln had a mintage of 48,020,000.

Here's a summary of the Presidential Dollar mintages for 2010:

2011

The Interior of the Presidential Library
Credit: pexels.com, The Interior of the Presidential Library

In 2011, a total of four Presidential Dollar coins were minted, honoring Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, and James Garfield.

The mintages for these coins varied by mint and type, with the 2011-P Andrew Johnson coin having a mintage of 35,560,000.

The 2011-S Proof Andrew Johnson coin had a significantly lower mintage of 1,972,863, indicating a more limited production run.

The mintage numbers for the 2011-P Ulysses S. Grant coin were 38,080,000, while the 2011-D Ulysses S. Grant coin had a mintage of 37,940,000.

The 2011-S Proof Ulysses S. Grant coin also had a mintage of 1,972,863.

The 2011-P Rutherford B. Hayes coin had a mintage of 37,660,000, while the 2011-D Rutherford B. Hayes coin had a mintage of 36,820,000.

The 2011-S Proof Rutherford B. Hayes coin also had a mintage of 1,972,863.

The 2011-P James Garfield coin had a mintage of 37,100,000, which was the same as the 2011-D James Garfield coin.

The 2011-S Proof James Garfield coin had a mintage of 1,972,863.

Here is a summary of the 2011 Presidential Dollar mintages:

2020

Sculpture of Four USA Presidents on Top of Mount Rushmore
Credit: pexels.com, Sculpture of Four USA Presidents on Top of Mount Rushmore

In 2020, the Presidential Dollar Mintages were released, featuring George H.W. Bush. The 2020-P George H.W. Bush had a mintage of 1,242,275.

One notable aspect of the 2020 Presidential Dollar Mintages was the significant difference in mintage between the Philadelphia and Denver mint facilities. The 2020-D George H.W. Bush had a mintage of 1,502,425.

The 2020-S Reverse Proof George H.W. Bush was a special edition with a much lower mintage of 11,251.

2014 Mintages

In 2014, the mintages for the Presidential Dollar coins were quite varied. The 2014-P Warren G. Harding coin had a mintage of 6,160,000.

The mintages for the different Presidential Dollars that year were notable for their similarities. The 2014-P Calvin Coolidge coin shared a mintage of 4,480,000 with the 2014-P Herbert Hoover coin.

The Proof versions of the coins were produced in much smaller numbers. The 2014-S Proof Warren G. Harding coin had a mintage of 1,373,569.

Here is a breakdown of the mintages for the 2014 Presidential Dollar coins:

The 2014-D Warren G. Harding coin had a mintage of 3,780,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the presidential dollar coins worth anything?

While most Presidential Dollar coins are worth only a few dollars, some can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars, including a few rare ones worth over $100,000. If you're a coin collector, it's worth exploring the value of these coins further.

Can you still get presidential dollar coins at the bank?

No, you can't get new Presidential $1 Coins at the bank, as their production was suspended. However, you can still get them from the Federal Reserve's existing inventory of coins minted before 2012.

Are presidential dollar coins still being made?

No, the Presidential $1 coin program was officially ended in 2016 after production of collector's coins. The last eligible president featured on the coins was Ronald Reagan.

How many presidential dollars are there?

There are 37 Presidential Dollar coins in circulation, featuring deceased U.S. Presidents. Learn more about the unique design and features of these coins.

Colleen Boyer

Lead Assigning Editor

Colleen Boyer is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a keen eye for compelling storytelling. With a background in journalism and a passion for complex ideas, she has built a reputation for overseeing high-quality content across a range of subjects. Her expertise spans the realm of finance, with a particular focus on Investment Theory.

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