Presidential Dollar Coins (2007-2016, 2020)

The Presidential Coin Program was a series of circulating commemorative coins issued by the United States Mint from 2007 to 2016. The program aimed to honor former U.S. Presidents by featuring their images on the obverse (front). They’re often referred to as Presidential “gold” coins because of their color, but they’re made from a blend of copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel. 

The program was authorized by the Presidential $1 Coin Act, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 22, 2005. This legislation called for the issuance of a series of $1 coins featuring the images of deceased U.S. Presidents. The series started in 2007 with the release of the George Washington Presidential Dollar. Subsequent coins were released in chronological order of each President's term. The coins featured a portrait of the President on the obverse, with the Statue of Liberty on the reverse. The Mint released four presidents per year until 2016, when the program was concluded. 

The order of release was determined by the chronological order of each President's term, beginning with George Washington. The final U.S. President dollar coin in the series was Richard M. Nixon, released in 2016. Despite being legal tender, the Presidential dollars did not circulate widely in everyday transactions. The public's limited use of dollar coins in commerce and the prevalence of the one-dollar bill contributed to this low circulation.

Due to low demand and stockpiles of unused coins, the mint suspended production of Presidential coins for circulation in 2012. However, they continued to produce limited quantities for collectors. The coins became popular among coin collectors, and the U.S. Mint continued to produce numismatic products, such as proof and uncirculated sets, featuring the Presidential dollars. 

The Presidential Dollar Coin Program officially concluded in 2016 with the release of the Richard M. Nixon coin. The subsequent years saw the continuation of the Native American $1 Coin series and the introduction of other commemorative coin programs.