Presidential Dollar Edges

With the Presidential Dollar series, for the first time in decades, lettering is being applied to the edge of a United States coin struck for circulation. Included on the edge is the date and mint mark, "E PLURIBUS UNUM", and "IN GOD WE TRUST". In 2009, "IN GOD WE TRUST" was removed from the edge and added to the obverse. This page will chronicle the edge of the Presidential Dollars. Here you'll find information on edge varieties and errors. Every variety or error can't possibly be listed. What will be listed are the more notable varieties and errors with emphasis on those that are collectible, i.e. in sufficent enough quantities to be available to any numismatist seeking one.

2007 - 2008

2007
NO DOT AFTER DATE

2008
DOT AFTER DATE

Edge lettering includes date, Mint mark, "E PLURIBUS
UNUM", and "IN GOD WE TRUST".

The 2007 Dollars have a "dot" between "E PLURIBUS
UNUM" and "IN GOD WE TRUST". A "dot" does not
exist between the date/mintmark and "E PLURIBUS
UNUM" on 2007 dated Presidential Dollars.

An extra "dot" was added to the edge of the 2008
Presidential Dollars between the date/mintmark and
"E PLURIBUS UNUM".

2007 P E PLURIBUS UNUM · IN GOD WE TRUST ·

2008 P · E PLURIBUS UNUM · IN GOD WE TRUST ·

2009 - Present

Beginning with the 2009 William Henry Harrison Presidential
Dollar, "In God We Trust" appears on the obverse of it
and all succeeding Presidential $1 Coins. As a result, the
edge lettering of the 2009 Presidential $1 Coins is
different from that of the 2007 and 2008 Dollars.
Where in 2007/2008 there were single dots (delimiters)
between the inscriptions, beginning in 2009 there
will be three stars between the date/mintmark and "E Pluribus
Unum" and ten stars between "E Pluribus Unum" and
the date/mintmark.

2009 P E PLURIBUS UNUM

Interesting Note: It was reported on this site, as well as many
other sites, that the 2009 Presidential Dollars would have edge let-
tering consisting of seven stars, followed by the date/MM, followed
by six stars, followed by "E Pluribus Unum". However, it was
pointed out to us that instead they have the same edge lettering
as the 2009 Native American $1 which is ten stars, followed by the
date/MM, followed by 3 stars, followed by "E Pluribus Unum".
There is a CCAC meeting minutes report dated 6/18/08
that states the 2009 Native American $1 will have the same
edge as the Presidential Dollar, but when was the change
made/authorized to use 10x3 stars instead of the original
7x6 stars? I posed this question to several noted numismatists
and on message boards. No one seems to know.

For business strikes, the edge lettering is being applied in a seperate process after the obverse and reverse are struck. The struck coins are run through the edge lettering machine at a high speed without reguard to whether they are facing obverse up or reverse up. Therefore, coins are being struck with "edge lettering right-side-up" and "edge lettering upside-down" in relation to the obverse of the coin (SEE PHOTOS BELOW). "Upside down" lettering IS NOT AN ERROR. However, it is a nice variation to collect one of each type if one is inclined to do so.

The edge lettering on proof coins is applied by a different process than on business strikes. It is applied when the coin is struck.

Immediately after the George Washington Dollar's were released, a large quantity of coins were found without the edge inscriptions. Most were found in Florida. It is not known exactly how many escaped the Mint, but estimates are as much as 100,000 exists. These coins are minting errors. This error will undoubtedly recur throughout the Presidential Dollar series.

PLEASE BEWARE. There are unscrupulouis people out there filing down coins with edge lettering to pass off as genuine mint errors. Here is an off site article with photos of what to look for. Altered Washington Dollars Surface

March 7, 2007

A Statement from the United States Mint

The United States Mint has struck more than 300 million George Washington Presidential $1 Coins. We have recently learned that an unspecified quantity of these coins inadvertently left the United States Mint at Philadelphia without edge-lettering on them. It is unknown how many of these coins without inscriptions on the edge have been placed into circulation.

The United States Mint understands the importance of the inscriptions “In God We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum,” as well as the mint mark and year on U.S. coinage. We take this matter seriously. We also consider quality control a high priority. The agency is looking into the matter to determine a possible cause in the manufacturing process.

Production of the Presidential $1 Coin, with its unique edge-lettering, is a new, complex, high volume manufacturing system, and the United States Mint is determined to make technical adjustments to perfect the process. As we adjust this new process, we intend to eliminate any such defects.

Consistent with the agency’s practice in such situations, the United States Mint has informed the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Treasury about this matter.

A relatively large quantity of 2007-P John Adams Presidential Dollars were run through the edge lettering machine twice. Estimates are that 8,000 to 12,000 pieces exists.

These errors occur in three different variations:
1) Overlapped Position A - Both sets of edge lettering running the same way but upside down in relation to the obverse.
2) Overlapped Position B - Both sets of edge lettering running the same way but right side up in relation to the obverse.
3) Inverted - One set edge lettering right side up and one set upside down.

The Mint has taken steps to prevent this from occuring again. However, anything is possible.

JOHN ADAMS DOLLAR WITH OVERLAPPING DOUBLE EDGE LETTERING

JOHN ADAMS DOLLAR WITH INVERTED DOUBLE EDGE LETTERING

Photos Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service

An undetermined number of 2007-S Proof Thomas Jefferson Dollars were struck and released with the edge lettering out of sequence. Unlike business strike Presidential Dollars where the edge lettering is applied after the coin is struck, the edge lettering on proof coins is applied at the same time they're struck. The collar containing the edge lettering is in three segments. One segment contains the date and mint mark; one segment contains the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM"; and one segment contains "IN GOD WE TRUST". Each segment is placed in the holder by hand. The error occured when the mint employee simply placed the segments into the holder in the wrong sequence. On a normal proof coin, "IN GOD WE TRUST" is followed by the date and mint mark. On the out of sequence edge, "IN GOD WE TRUST" is followed by "E PLURIBUS UNUM". Measures have been taken to prevent this type of error from occuring again. In a March 2008 statement, the mint estimated that as many as 100,000 Jefferson proof dollars were struck with the edge inscription out of sequence. How many were actually released is unknown, but to date, only a handful have been reported so check your proof Thomas Jefferson dollars.

Normal edge: 2007 S E PLURIBUS UNUM · IN GOD WE TRUST ·

Error edge: 2007 S IN GOD WE TRUST · PLURIBUS UNUM ·

MISDATED PRESIDENTIAL DOLAR
2009-D ZACHARY TAYLOR DOLLAR BEARS 2010-D DATE

In early 2010, NGC certified a 2009-D Zachary Taylor Presidential $1 bearing the 2010-D date. The date on Presidential Dollars is applied to the edge of the coin in a separate step after the obverse and reverse are struck. This wrong-dated error dollar was found in a roll of 2010-D Native American Dollar coins that had been purchased via the United States Mint's Direct Ship Program. This is the first wrongly dated Presidential Dollar found.