A new $1 coin is being introduced as a result of the Presidential Coin Act of 2005, which requires the United States Mint to mint the dollar coins commemorating the service of former United States Presidents in the order in which they served. In 2007, the United States Mint will begin production of this dollar coin for circulation. Set to be released around President's day 2007, will be a new dollar coin with George Washington. Also in 2007, we will see a dollar coin with the next three presidents which were John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. This release schedule is similar to the State Quarter program. About once a quarter, we will see a new design. Like the State Quarter program, the reverse of the coin will stay the same. The reverse of the dollar coin will feature the Statue of Liberty, the slogan "The United States of America" and a one and dollar sign to signify its value of 1 dollar.
The new coins will be the same size as the existing Sacagawea dollar coin and will be the same gold color. It will be made of a copper-zinc-manganese-nickel clad copper alloy. The surface of the coin will be treated a little differently to slow the tarnishing process which was a big criticism of the Sacagawea dollar coin. The Sacagawea coin color was changed in an attempt to answer criticisms of the Susan B Anthony Dollar which people confused with a quarter.
Unlike past coins, the obverse will not bear the familiar "In God We Trust" or the date of the coin. Instead, the issue year, mint mark and motto will appear in the edge of the coin. Edge lettering has not been tried on an American coin since 1933. With the lettering now on the edge or side of the coin, the portrait on the obverse will be a little larger than normal.
The new coins are expected to be popular with collectors. The State Quarter program introduced a whole new generation to coin collecting and brought non-active collectors back into collecting.
By law, only those presidents who have been dead for two or more years can appear on a coin. This makes it likely that Bill Clinton and George W Bush will not appear on the coin as they will likely still be alive when there turn comes about. Ronald Reagan, who some people have been pushing for to replace Roosevelt on the dime, will now show up on a coin, assume Ford and Carter die two years before their turn. Presidents who you would never think would ever appear on a coin will now get that chance.
An interesting fact is that Grover Cleveland will show up twice as he served two terms but they were not consecutive. Additionally, George Washington will appear on the new dollar coin, the quarter and dollar bill all at the same time. When Thomas Jefferson has his turn, he will appear on the dollar, but also the current nickel and the two dollar bill. Yes, the two dollar bill is still being produced.
Below is the timeframe for the release of the new dollar coins.