What is the Presidential dollar series?
Between 2007 and 2016 the United States Mint issued dollar coins honouring the presidents in order of service, four a year, with a final issue in 2020. John Adams, as the second president, appeared in 2007 alongside Washington, Jefferson and Madison. John Quincy Adams, the sixth president, followed in 2008 and is a different coin entirely, which is the source of endless confusion because the names are nearly identical and both men appear in the same series.
The design put the president on the front and the Statue of Liberty on the back. Crucially, the date, the mint mark and the mottoes were moved off the faces and onto the edge of the coin, incused into the rim. That single design decision is the reason this series produced the errors collectors chase.
Is the John Adams dollar coin made of gold?
No. The golden colour comes from a manganese brass outer layer over a copper core, the same alloy used for the Sacagawea dollar. There is no gold in it, and there is no silver in it either. If you brought a jar of these to us expecting bullion value, the honest answer is that their metal is worth essentially nothing and their value is entirely about condition and error status.
That is not a reason to throw them in a coin machine. It is a reason to have them looked at, because the errors below are found by eye in seconds once you know what to look for.
The edge-lettering errors worth checking for
Because the lettering was applied to the edge in a separate step after striking, coins escaped the Mint in 2007 with that step skipped or doubled. These are the varieties to look for, and all of them are found by turning the coin on its side.
- Missing edge lettering. A completely plain edge, with no date, no mint mark and no mottoes. Because the missing text includes IN GOD WE TRUST, these became known in the hobby as godless dollars. They are the best known error of the series and they carry a genuine premium.
- Doubled edge lettering. The inscription applied twice, sometimes overlapping, sometimes inverted relative to itself. Scarcer than the missing variety.
- Weak or partial lettering. Worth showing to someone, though it is the least valuable of the three and is easily confused with ordinary wear.
One important caution: the edge lettering is applied in random orientation on every one of these coins, so lettering that reads upside down when the portrait is upright is completely normal and is not an error. That single misunderstanding accounts for most of the coins people bring in hoping.
Why condition decides almost everything else
Mintages for this series ran into the hundreds of millions, so a circulated Presidential dollar with no error is common and stays common. What lifts an ordinary one above face value is condition: an uncirculated coin with full original lustre and no bag marks, ideally still in a Mint roll or a Mint set, is worth having graded rather than spent.
Do not clean them. Rubbing a brass coin to brighten it leaves fine scratches that a grader sees immediately and that permanently cap what it can be worth. This applies to every coin, not just these, and it is the single most common way people reduce the value of what they own before they ever reach a counter.
Where to have a Presidential dollar checked
Bring the whole jar. We look at coins free, we check edges for the varieties above, and we tell you plainly when the answer is that they are worth face value, because most of the time that is the answer and you deserve to hear it straight. If something in there is a genuine error or a high-grade example, we will say that too and explain what makes it one.
Our coin counter page explains how a full evaluation runs, the rare pennies list covers the cents worth pulling out of pocket change, and quarter errors and values covers the In God We Rust Kansas quarter and the rest of the error families.
One coin, one ring, or a box nobody has opened in thirty years: checked in front of you, explained in plain English, paid the same day. Call (732) 483-4145 or walk in.
Get it looked at, at any of our 8 storesPresidential dollar FAQs
Is the John Adams dollar coin made of gold?
No. The golden colour comes from a manganese brass layer over a copper core, the same alloy as the Sacagawea dollar. There is no gold and no silver in it, so its metal value is essentially nothing and everything depends on condition and error status.
What is a godless dollar?
A Presidential dollar that left the Mint with no edge lettering at all, so the date, mint mark and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST are missing from the rim. It happened in 2007 when the separate edge-lettering step was skipped, and it carries a genuine premium.
Is upside-down edge lettering on a Presidential dollar an error?
No, and this is the most common false alarm. The edge inscription is applied in random orientation on every coin in the series, so lettering that reads upside down relative to the portrait is completely normal.
What is the difference between the John Adams and John Quincy Adams dollar?
They are different coins for different men. John Adams, the second president, was issued in 2007. John Quincy Adams, the sixth president and his son, was issued in 2008. The names are nearly identical, which is why they are constantly mixed up.
Should I clean a Presidential dollar before selling it?
No. Rubbing a brass coin to brighten it leaves fine scratches a grader spots immediately and permanently caps what it can be worth. Bring it as it is, even if it looks dull.