Presidential Dollar Coins
First Spouse Gold Coins 
Washington Dollar Coins
Adams Dollar Coins
Jefferson Dollar Coins 

Presidential Dollar Coin and First Spouse Gold Coins

Presidential Dollars and 
First Spouse Coins -
Historic Change Is Here!

Collectors typically handle coins coins by their sides and only the front and back are normally graded.  With the introduction of the new dollar coins, the condition of the edges will also become important for grading.  That means it will become even MORE DIFFICULT to find a coin that grades as a perfect 70!

PRESIDENTIAL DOLLAR COIN UPDATE #1:  

Almost immediately, there were reports of GEORGE WASHINGTON DOLLAR ERROR COINS hitting circulation.  For coin collectors this is just about the best news they can hope to hear.  For a first issue coin in a brand new series to have an error, the potential value of such a goldmine can be staggering. 

What is the error?  Some coins do not have any edge lettering, so nowhere on the coin do the year, In God We Trust or E  Pluribus Unum appear!  As you do your research on these error coins, please be aware that some of the new dollar coins have the rim lettering "upside down".  This is NOT considered an error, as this apparently was expected.  Half of the coins will have the lettering the "right way" and half of them will have the lettering "upside down".  The error coins have NO LETTERING AT ALL.  In collectors circles, these coins have become known as "Godless dollars" due to the familiar In God We Trust being left off the coin.

Although we all expected the Mint to tighten up their quality controls for  their next release, John Adams, it did not take long for error coins to start appearing on those coins either!  Collectors have reported two types of errors on the John Adams coin - some have DOUBLE EDGE lettering and some have no lettering at all, like the Washington dollar coins.  Of the two errors, the double edge lettering is more common. 

The Mint acknowledges and apologizes for the errors but it is not clear how many have made it into circulation.  There are even some conspiracy theories that the Mint purposely introduced errors into the circulating coins in order to stir up interest in the presidential dollar coin series.

There are a few sellers on eBay who have these coins for sale and they are already going for hundreds of dollars.  There is no telling what the true value of these coins will be once the dust settles.  Check them out at these links:

Washington Presidential Dollar Error Coins on eBay
John Adams Presidential Dollar Error Coins on eBay

PRESIDENTIAL DOLLAR COIN UPDATE #2:

Besides the presidential dollar coins, the US Mint is also releasing gold coins to commemorate the President's wives.  This series is called The First Spouse Series. 

These coins are true collector's masterpieces and are 1/2 ounce of GOLD!  The first two coins in the series - Martha Washington and Abigail Adams - went on sale at noon on June 19, 2007 and were completely sold out within 4 hours.  Among coin collectors circles, many were caught sleeping and were surprised by this almost immediate sellout.  The Mint had placed a restriction of only 5 coins per customer, and many collectors missed the boat on them. 

The First Spouse Gold Coins retailed for $430 from the US Mint.  By the evening time on June 19, the coins were already up $600 on eBay and nobody even had the product in hand yet!  You don't want to miss this one!  This might truly be one of those opportunities you look back on in a few years and be thankful that you had the foresight to buy a few and hold them for great appreciation.  You can check out the First Spouse coins here:

View First Spouse Coins on eBay

PRESIDENTIAL DOLLAR COIN UPDATE #3:

As reported on June 29, 2007 - The words “In God We Trust” may no longer be hidden on the edge of newly minted presidential dollar coins, thanks to an amendment to the House Financial Services appropriations bill. If this actually passes through Congress then the Presidential Dollar Coins with the motto on the rim will definitely become an even hotter collectible. Invest in them now!

PRESIDENTIAL DOLLAR COIN UPDATE #4:

The Thomas Jefferson First Spouse Coin was finally released on August 30, 2007.  It is believed that they were sold out within a couple of hours!  It was almost impossible to get an order through on the phone or the website.  The Mint imposed a limit of only 20,000 of each coin type (proof and uncirculated).  They also imposed a limit of one coin per type per household.  

Coin collectors have been looking forward to the Thomas Jefferson First Spouse Coin since it was first announced.  It is different than the other coins since it does not show Thomas Jefferson's spouse.  Instead the front of the coin has the face of Liberty.  This is considered a throwback to the olden days of coins and collectors are eating it up!  This demand from true collectors plus the strict limits imposed by the Mint makes for a truly valuable and collectable coin.  If your budget is limited, THIS might be the First Spouse Coin to invest in!

The previous dollar coin, which made its debut in 1999, features Sacagawea, the young Shoshone interpreter who guided the Lewis and Clark expedition. It has yet to come into widespread use.

The government has tried several times to introduce a dollar coin into circulation and each time it has ben embraced by collectors but rejected by mainstream society.  The United States Mint is attempting to educate the consumer on the benefits and beauty of the new presidential dollar coins.  Their website is filled with promotional information that can be ordered and displayed in financial and educational institutions.  Whether the public embraces this design remains to be seen.  However, coin collectors are not concerned with the coin's popularity in standard circulation.  The coins have just been released and the buzz and anticipation are even geater than that of the State Quarters Program!

As any collector knows, the first issue of anything - coins, comic books, rookie cards - are always the most important and most valuable.  We recommend you stock up on the Washington Dollar coin.  Buying money is an almost perfect investment.  It will always at least be worth its face value, and since the coin market is so hot you are almost guaranteed a high rate of return if you can afford to hold on to your investment for the future.  For example -  in 1999, the Mint issued a silver proof set that included the first batch of State Quarters.  This package retailed for about $30, yet now commonly sells for over $400!

The presidential dollar coins will be minted at a rate of four presidents a year, starting with George Washington and working up to the modern day. Every former president, living and deceased, will be on a dollar coin.   

The table below lists all U.S. presidents in chronological order of service, and the year their presidential dollar coin will be issued.  According to the new law, a president must be deceased a minimum of two years before being honored on a presidential dollar coin.

The issuance dates for the first 38 presidential dollar coins are certain, carrying us until the year 2016.  How many new presidential coins are minted beyond that is dependent on the number of living former presidents who die prior to 2014.  Jimmy Carter and George H.W. both turn 90 that year.  Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both born in 1946, would be 68 in 2014, so the odds are good they won't qualify for their presidential coins by then.  And what of the person elected president in 2008, 2012, and 2016?  New legislation will probably be written to address this touchy issue.

HOW TO ORDER

Although the local banks are supposed to be distributing the Presidential Dollar Coins for standard circulation, the banks are not knowledgeable about coin and currency collecting.  As such, they will treat the new coins as "just another dollar".  Banks do not order certain currency and coin types  They take what they are given.   You should never expect to get collectible grade coins and currency from a bank.  They are only interested in face value of the coin - NOT it's collectible value.  For this reason we recommend buying from other coin collectors on eBay.  Purchasing from them gives you a much better chance at getting collectible grade Presidential Dollar Coins.

View Presidential Dollar Coins from eBay

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