Presidential Dollar Value and the 'Godless' Dollar Error
Most Presidential dollars are worth one dollar, and like the Sacagawea dollar they are made of golden-colored brass, not gold. Issued from 2007 to 2016 (with a 2020 addition for George H. W. Bush), the series honored former presidents four per year. The coins are best known to collectors for a striking error — the 'Godless dollar.' This guide explains the edge lettering, the missing-lettering errors worth a premium, and why everything else is face value.
Key takeaways
- Presidential dollars (2007–2016, plus 2020) are manganese brass, not gold, and almost all are worth $1.
- Their date, mint mark, and mottos are on the edge of the coin rather than the face.
- The famous error is the 'Godless dollar' — coins that left the mint with no edge lettering at all.
- Other edge errors, such as doubled or inverted edge lettering, can also carry a premium.
- Outside of these errors and high-grade examples, Presidential dollars are face-value coins.
How much is a Presidential dollar worth?
Almost always one dollar. Presidential dollars were made in large numbers and saw little circulation, so common coins are worth face value in both circulated and uncirculated condition.
The notable exceptions are edge-lettering errors and top-grade examples, covered below.
Are Presidential dollars gold?
No. They share the Sacagawea dollar's manganese-brass composition — a copper core with a golden-colored brass outer layer — and contain no gold. See our Sacagawea dollar value guide for the same 'golden dollar' metal.
So a golden Presidential dollar is a brass coin worth one dollar, not a precious-metal coin.
What is edge lettering on a Presidential dollar?
Instead of placing the date and mottos on the front or back, the Mint stamped them on the edge of Presidential dollars — including the year, mint mark, 'E PLURIBUS UNUM,' and 'IN GOD WE TRUST.' This was a design choice to keep the portrait and reverse uncluttered.
Because the lettering is applied in a separate step, the process occasionally went wrong — which is where the valuable errors come from.
What is the 'Godless dollar' error?
The 'Godless dollar' is a Presidential dollar that left the mint with no edge lettering at all, so it is missing the date, mint mark, and the motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST' — hence the nickname. The error first turned up on 2007 George Washington dollars and drew national attention.
Genuine missing-edge-lettering coins carry a premium, with values depending on the coin and grade. The error is a true mint mistake, not damage, so it is collected as an error coin.
| Coin | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Common dates | Worth $1 face value |
| Missing edge lettering ('Godless') | Mint error; carries a premium |
| Doubled edge lettering | Error; collectible premium |
| High-grade uncirculated | Modest premium in top grades |
Which other edge errors matter?
Besides missing lettering, collectors look for doubled edge lettering (the inscription applied twice) and inverted lettering relative to the obverse. These are genuine errors and can bring a premium, though usually less than a fully missing-lettering coin.
As with any error, confirm it is a mint mistake and not post-mint damage; our coin errors explained guide covers the difference.
How do you check and sell Presidential dollars?
Look at the edge: a coin missing its lettering, or showing doubled lettering, is worth setting aside. Have promising error coins authenticated by PCGS or NGC; see which grading companies to trust.
Sell verified errors through a rare coin dealer. Common Presidential dollars can be spent or sold to a coin shop at face value.
Frequently asked questions
Are Presidential dollars worth anything?+
Most are worth their $1 face value. The valuable ones are error coins — especially 'Godless dollars' missing their edge lettering — and high-grade examples.
Are Presidential dollars gold?+
No. They are made of manganese brass over a copper core, the same golden-colored, non-gold metal as the Sacagawea dollar. They contain no gold.
What is a Godless dollar?+
It is a Presidential dollar that left the mint with no edge lettering, so it is missing the date, mint mark, and the motto 'In God We Trust.' Genuine examples carry a premium.
Where is the date on a Presidential dollar?+
On the edge of the coin, along with the mint mark and mottos, rather than on the front or back. Missing or doubled edge lettering creates the collectible errors.