1. The first ten coins in the series feature the phrase “In God We Trust” on the edge of the coin. The internet was flooded with emails like this:
Please help out…our world is in enough trouble without this too!!!!! U.S. Government to Release New Dollar Coins. You guessed it ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ IS GONE!!! If ever there was a reason to boycott something, THIS IS IT!!!! DO NOT ACCEPT THE NEW DOLLAR COINS AS CHANGE Together we can force them out of circulation. Please send to all on your email list!!
By the end of 2007, Congress learned its lesson and revised the law to read “In God We Trust” must appear on the obverse or the reverse (“heads” or “tails”) of future coins. The ninth coin in the program, 2009 William Henry Harrison, saw the phrase move to the obverse of the coin.
2. The Coinage Act of 1792 states that coins would employ one side with an impression emblematic of liberty, with the inscription “Liberty”, and the year of the coinage. The word “Liberty” does not appear on Presidential Dollars because a decision was made that the image of the Statue of Liberty on the reverse of the coin was sufficient.
3. The first coin in the program, the 2007 George Washington was released to the public on February 15, 2007, in honor of Presidents’ Day.
4. To qualify, a President must have been dead for at least two years prior to the time of minting. Therefore, Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump were not eligible. George W. Bush signed the bill into law to produce the coins but does not have a coin of his own.
5. Grover Cleveland was the only president in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms, therefore he has two coins. Cleveland’s given name was Stephen Grover Cleveland, but both coins omit “Stephen.”
6. At least 50,000 of the first two 2007 Presidential dollars, Washington and Adams, were released into circulation without edge lettering. These coins can fetch far more than their face value at auction.
7. The golden dollar contains no gold. It’s a special mix of copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel. This composition allows it to be read by vending machines that accept Susan B. Anthony dollars. Both the silver dollar and golden dollar have the same electromagnetic signature which is based on its chemical composition.
8. The life expectancy of a paper dollar bill is about 18 months, while a dollar coin’s life expectancy is about 30 years. Switching to a coin only dollar would save the U.S. government about $5.5 billion over 30 years.
9. William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield are the only dollar coins that feature one date, 1841 and 1881. Both died in office, Harrison after a mere 31 days in office and Garfield after 6 1/2 months.