Coin Blog

Who will buy the 2011 Presidential Dollar Proof Set? The individual offering containing the proof versions of the four $1 coins issued during the year for the Presidents has lost some of its relevance.

This year, the US Mint released the 2011 Proof Set in mid January. This was a positive change for collectors who were used to waiting until mid-year or later for the popular annual set to be released. However, it threw off the dynamics and perhaps the main marketing point of the separate proof sets which have generally been issued first.

Last year, I bought the 2010 Presidential Dollar Proof Set just to get an earlier look at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar. Since I was getting the full set later, this set became redundant and I actually just gave it away as a gift.

This year, the incentive of getting coins earlier has gone away. Also, following a price increase, the 2011 Presidential Dollar Proof Set is $19.95. I will definitely pass on this offering, as I suggest other collectors will.

(In case anyone is wondering, the image is from the 2011 Presidential Dollars included in my full annual set.)

The 17th release in the Presidential Dollars series was launched last week to honor Andrew Johnson. The US Mint marked the event by holding a launch ceremony at the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Tennessee.

In line with the format of the series, the obverse of the coin features a portrait of the President. Under the authorizing legislation, this is supposed to be a "larger and more dramatic artwork... reminiscent of the so-called 'Golden Age of Coinage' in the United States." Although a lofty endeavor, I don't think you can do much with a portrait of a historical figure.

The reverse features the statue of Liberty, which is the common design used across all issues of the series. The face value of the coin is expressed as "$1".

The official circulation release date for the Andrew Johnson Presidential Dollar is February 17, 2011. The US Mint will issue their numismatic rolls tomorrow on February 23.

The coins may not be circulating with abundance, but at least one of the aims of the series has been accomplished. I can name the 17th to 20th Presidents of the United States, highlighting the educational benefit.

The designs for the 2011 Presidential Dollars have been announced by the US Mint. Following the format of the series, the obverse of each coin will feature a portrait of the President, while the reverse will feature a representation of the concept of Liberty.

The Presidents honored next year will be the 17th to 20th Presidents. The series has included four different designs each year since 2007. The series will continue until each of the deceased Presidents have been honored.

The Andrew Johnson Presidential Dollar was designed and sculpted by Don Everhart.

The coin for the Civil War military commander and two term President, Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Dollar was also designed and sculpted by Everhart. Likely the highlight, or most well known release for the year.

Honoring the 19th President of the United States, the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Dollar will be released third during the year. Once again, the design and sculpting work was performed by Don Everhart.

The last release of the year for the series will be the James A. Garfield Presidential Dollar. He served as President for the second shortest term before an assassin's bullet eventually led to his demise. The obverse design and sculpting was performed by Phebe Hemphill.

On November 18, 2010, the United States Mint released the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar. This has been an eagerly awaited issue of the series, following some of the lesser known Presidents of the United States.

Numismatists have long favored depictions of Lincoln on their coins. He has appeared on literally hundreds of different medals and coins issued over the years. When he was featured on the Illinois Centennial Half Dollar, this became the first of the early commemorative coins to sell out of its entire maximum authorized mintage.

More recently, Lincoln's bicentennial was celebrated with the issuance of four different reverse designs for the Lincoln Cent and commemrorative silver dollars.

The 2010 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar will be the 16th release in the overall series and the final release for the year. Collectors will be able to purchase numismatic rolls from the US Mint today, or can request the coins at their banks.

The United States Mint has released the final mintage figures for the James Buchanan Presidential Dollar. Interestingly, the coin has not yet been released into circulation, although production is apparently completed.

The coins are schedule for circulation release on August 19, 2010. This represents the fifteenth issue of the ongoing Presidential Dollar Program, honoring former Presidents of the United States of America in the order served.

The final mintage for the James Buchanan Dollar includes 36.54 million Philadelphia minted coins and 36.82 Denver minted coins. This yields an overall mintage of 73.36 million coins, representing a fresh low for the series. The prior Franklin Pierce Dollar had an overall mintage of 76.58 million and the first release of the year honoring Millard Fillmore had a mintage of 74.48, the previous low for the series.

Next up for the series will be the Abraham Lincoln Dollar, with circulation release date on November 18, 2010. The anticipated higher demand for this coin may be the reason Buchanan Dollars stopped being produced before they were even released.