Are the new Jefferson Presidential $1 Coins really released into circulation? Have you seen any? Or was the United States Mint ceremony announcing their release just marketing hoopla and a government cover story?

Well, there’s no question the U.S. Mint’s ceremony the other day had its fair share of marketing, but there’s nothing wrong with that. And I expect it’s not their fault that trying to get freshly minted Jefferson dollars seems as impossible as tracking down a flying saucer around Area 51!

Getting the new $1 coin rolls from a bank in my city wasn’t easy. In fact, I couldn’t! I spent Saturday trying to track down some of the Jefferson $1 coin rolls and, wow, what a pain and what an experience.

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Giving coins for gifts on birthdays, graduations, Christmas and other special events has exploded in recent years. The 50 State Quarters© Program started back in 1999 helped nudge up coin collecting and coin gift giving. The new Presidential $1 Coins program started this year will likely continue the momentum.

Many coin dealers and their websites showcase "Gift Idea" products. With all the choices out there, what makes a good coin gift? When should you start? Can coin gifts start someone down the path to coin collecting? How much should you spend? Let’s tackle these questions and more!

Giving Complete Coin Collections as Gifts

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