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Presidential Dollar Coins: New Designs in 2008 and Future Changes

by Flexo on January 3, 2008

in Uncategorized

There’s some news about the relatively unpopular “presidential” golden dollar coins. I’ve been using these coins almost every day, but I have not run into anyone else doing so. Most people I know haven’t even seen the coins. If you want to pick them up from the bank, pay attention to the release schedule:

February 14: James Monroe
May 15: John Quincy Adams
August 14: Andrew Jackson
November 13: Martin Van Buren

Here’s a chance to look at the four obverse designs representing U.S. presidents five through eight.

Monroe Quincy Adams Jackson highrespicmvanburen.jpg

Currently, the “In God We Trust” motto appears on the edge of the dollar coins. This is an interesting idea, but I can’t say I am a fan. The edge lettering just doesn’t seem as solid as lettering on the obverse or reverse. Other people apparently had their own problems with the relocation of the motto. I’ve received forwarded junk email stating incorrectly that the “In God We Trust” motto was missing from all dollar coins as the result of some (non-existent) political God-elimination scheme. That rumor as we know is completely untrue, but a small amount of error coins struck without the lettering surfaced. Some individuals have vandalized coins to make “fake errors,” as well, but there was no underground governmental desire to remove “In God We Trust” from the coins.

Now, here is the news. The motto will be moving to the obverse of the dollar coins in 2009, while the date and mint mark will remain on the edge. This change could possibly increase the demand for earlier dollar coins from 2007 and 2008, at least among collectors, due to what will eventually be the “rarer” configuration with the motto on the edge.

Speaking of design changes, I hope that at the conclusion of the presidential dollar series, all presidential portraiture designs are retired. When designing the original American coinage, the founders wanted to stay away from honoring political leaders — it reminded them too much of the kingdom from which they were trying to separate. Let’s get back to having attractive and artistic representations of Liberty on our coinage rather than dead people.

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Tagged as: coins, dollars, mint



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Flexo, the owner and creator of Consumerism Commentary, has been blogging and writing for the internet since 1995 and has been building online communities since 1991. Find out more about him and follow him on Twitter.

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  • M.B.
    I didn't even know these coins were released! Can I get them at any local bank?

    Are there plans to use these in speficic areas of circulation? I remember the Sacajawea dollar coins were often given as change at the post office.

    I think the Presidential dollar coins are a great idea now that the state quarters are winding down.

    It would also seem to be a good way to learn the sequence and dates of the Presidents for trivia buffs like myself.
  • The 2007 presidential dollar coins can be found at your local bank, if they have any in stock. Ask for a roll if you're interested.
  • Flexo, do you think these will ever have any sort of collector's value (baring mistakes, die errors, etc)? My wife and I received two fancy rolls of uncirculated coins of a 2007 series in a plastic display case as a gift this Christmas.

    For now they are just going to sit in the safe deposit box at the bank, but I wonder if they will ever have some sort of added value.
  • From what I understand ( not much really ), it's usually the Proof coins that *can* gain value. Those are the really nice ones, usually cased in plastic or glass to keep fingerprints and such away.
  • Let's keep in mind while discussing "political God-elimination schemes" that the *inclusion* of the phrase on coins was a "political scheme" in the 1860's as a form of unification during the Civil War. Furthermore, the adoption of it as a national motto in 1956 is commonly accepted to be spurred by anti-Communism, which was considered "godless"; this is very similar to the addition of "under God" to our National Anthem as an act of unity against the Atheist Pinkos.

    I believe it was Chris that is thought to have said "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's".
  • I'm not saying that we need to have "under God" on our coins, but recent surveys indicate that that vast majority of Americans believe in God, furthermore the founders of the country had a strong belief in God. I think the phrase accurately represents our culture.
  • Jeremy: The 2006 and 2007 dollars may become collector's items but I doubt the circulated versions will ever be that valuable.
  • I hesitate to respond since we're getting off track of the article, but I definitely agree a majority of Americans believe in God. However, as far as a national motto goes, I don't understand why we ignore our ideals that are more important to the running of a successful, ethical Republic. How about some of the iconic phrases from the DoI or the Constituion. "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" or something similar. Especially since our government is so vehemently against foreign theocracies, it is ironic that our national motto that graces our coins are purely theological. What about "E Pluribus Unum"? That captures the beauty of America..."From many, one."

    Now, back on the article, I agree with Flexo that we should return to coins with depictions of idealistic embodiments of liberty, freedom, democracy etc. and not rely on faces. However, I do know that the presence of faces on paper currency is a counterfeit safeguard, since the human eye/brain combo is very attuned to noticing differences in the human face.
  • Dan
    Regardless of their future value, I have found them especially fun for my 3 year old son. I'll use the "special" golden dollar coins to reward him when he performs an especially good or hard job, such as when he helped his mama out so much with our newborn.
  • Another good place to get them is the post office. If you use one of their self-serve machines, the change they return always includes $1 coins.
  • I love these coins. I have found that it is easier for me to hang on to them when I save, as opposed to dollar bills. It's a lot more difficult for me mentally to grab a handful of dollar coins for an "emergency" trip to Wal Mart than it is for me to grab a handful of dollar bills. So my "emergency" fund stays much more intact!
  • I think the edge will also carry "E Pluribus Unum" in addition to the date and mint mark.

    Agree with your point on bringing back Liberty!
  • alan
    Flexo: 2006 Presidential dollars? I don't think so. If you find one and its confirmed legitimate, I'm sure it will be worth major dinero. The series started in 2007.

    The post office is no longer a good source for these coins. In 2009 they pulled all their coin operated machines and replaced them with debit/credit card machines. Yea government, produce a coin you won't even distribute or use yourselves. Try a car wash or laundromat.
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