Front	Edge	Back

FRONT: The obverse of this golden masterpiece features an image of a past U.S. president with larger artwork than that found on other coins.  The president's name appears above his likeness, with the number and dates of his term served below.  This is the first time in history that the United States has systematically commemorated its past chief executives on a circulating issue.  (No living president, however, will appear on any of the coins in this series.)

EDGE: To make room for the larger images, information and phrases that traditionally appear on the front or back will be inscribed along the edge of the new metal dollar.  These include the year, the mint mark, and the phrases “In God We Trust” and "E Pluribus Unum."  Because the president one-dollars are fed into the “edge-incusing machine” both face-up and face-down, some will come out with the lettering oriented toward the “heads” side and others will be oriented towards the “tails” side.  Where the inscriptions appear along its circumference will also vary.

BACK: This new U.S. dollar coin is the only one in circulation that will not have the word “liberty,” but rather a handsome image of the Statue of Liberty to represent this important American value.  A reference to “liberty” has been required on all U.S.  metal currency since 1792.

SPECIFICATIONS: The size and composition of the new Presidential $1 coin is identical to that of the Sacagawea golden dollar.

Weight: 8.1 grams (.286 oz)

Thickness: 2 mm (.079 in)

Diameter: 26.5 mm (1.043 in)

Composition: The coin consists of two outer layers of pure copper that surround a third layer of manganese brass (an alloy comprised primarily of copper, along with zinc, manganese and nickel) .  Overall, the coin is nearly 90% copper.

 If you're interested in learning more about how coinage is designed, click here.  For more information about the presidential dollar program, visit the website of the U.S. Mint.