The United States Mint will send the Millard Fillmore Presidential $1 Coin into circulation on Feb. 18, 2010. On the same day the US Mint will ceremoniously unveil the new dollar at the Moravia Central School in Moravia, N.Y. at 10 AM ET.

Fillmore was born only five miles east of Moravia. He served as the 13th President of the United States from 1850-1853 after assuming the office when President Zachary Taylor passed away. These were tremulous times for the country which was already on the verge of a civil war, postponed by the Compromise of 1850. Fillmore is credited with the 1854 Treaty of Kanagawa effectively ending the isolationism of Japan. Read the rest of this entry »

The United States Mint has published images of the uncirculated 2010 Presidential $1 Coins which better highlight the newest issues to honor former American Presidents.

Uncirculated 2010 Presidential Dollar Images – See Large Individual Images Below

The US Mint previously released line art imagery of the dollars. While detailed, they do not provide the clarity and refined look of the final product.

This year’s $1 coins feature designs depicting Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln — the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Presidents of the U.S. They are the fourth set of coins in a program that began in 2007.

The 2010 Presidential Dollar release dates are now known, with the Fillmore dollar set to launch into circulation first on February 18, 2010. On the same day, the Mint will offer 25-coin rolls for $35.95 from either Philadelphia or Denver. The other $1s will follow in equal intervals throughout the year. Read the rest of this entry »

The 2010 Presidential Dollar series represents the fourth year for the program which launched in 2007. Although the United States Mint website has yet to publish specific launch dates for the 2010 $1 coins, the Federal Reserve Bank has as part of its 2010 distribution schedule.

2010 Presidential Dollar Designs – See Large Individual Images Below

In the order of their official release, the:

• Millard Fillmore $1 is set to launch on February 18
• Franklin Pierce $1 will be released on May 20
• James Buchanan $1 will go public on August 19
• Abraham Lincoln $1will be available on November 18

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Over 355 million Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, and John Tyler Presidential $1 Coins were distributed by the Federal Reserve Banks in the last accounting period, according to their annual report to Congress released earlier this year.

However, the Reserve indicates the amount is low compared to what they have on hand, and what is returned by banks.

As first reported by Paul Gilkes in the latest issue of Coin World, the Reserve Banks are accumulating a tremendous stockpile of the golden coins. In fact, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System made the following statement:

"Current supplies represent enough $1 coins for the Reserve Banks to meet transactional demand for $1 coins for about ten years."

This buildup represents a 900% plus increase in inventory over what the Banks held at the introduction of the Presidential Dollars to the system. According to Fed records, 67 million dollar coins were in their control at the start of 2007. By the end of May of this year, an astonishing 691 million dollars were being held in limbo. Read the rest of this entry »

The United States Mint on Thursday launched the Zachary and Margaret Taylor Presidential $1 Dollar Coin & First Spouse Medal Set for a price of $8.95, plus shipping and handling.

Marking the fifth and final issues this year and the thirteenth since the product line began in 2007, the set includes an uncirculated Zachary Taylor Presidential $1 Coin and a 1/15 inch bronze medal likeness of the Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coin.

The two are mounted within an attractive "durable plastic card enhanced with beautiful representations of the President and first spouse’s portraits, with issuance information on the back." Read the rest of this entry »

The next four designs to be issued as part of the Presidential $1 Circulating Coin series were unveiled Tuesday by the US Mint. Featured former Presidents that will be seen on the 2010 coins are Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln.

2010 Presidential Dollar Designs – See Large Individual Images Below

These coins will mark the thirteenth through the sixteenth coins to be issued in the series which began in 2007 with George Washington.

"Each of the Presidential $1 Coins is a tribute to the men who made tremendous personal sacrifices to lead our country," United States Mint Director Ed Moy stated in a media release about the designs. "I hope this tribute continues to inspire a renewed sense of pride in our Nation’s rich history as we move into the fourth year of the Presidential $1 Coin Program."

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Zachary Taylor Presidential $1 coins were ceremoniously launched today as a part of the events surrounding Zachary Taylor Appreciation Day and the 225th anniversary of his birth.

"Millions of Zachary Taylor Presidential $1 Coins will make their way into the hands of Americans who will see them and remember the life of former President Taylor and his contributions to our country," said US Mint Deputy Director Andy Brunhart. "We are proud to present this coin to the Nation."

Taylor coins were actually released into circulation last Thursday, Nov. 19. On the same day, the US Mint began offering 25-coin rolls from Philadelphia or Denver for $35.95 each. The opening sales for those rolls are already in, with more than 53,000 purchased by collectors between Nov. 19 and Nov. 22. (27,015 from Philadelphia and 26,200 from Denver.) Read the rest of this entry »

Zachary Taylor Presidential $1 coins in dollar rolls went on sale at the US Mint today at Noon ET. The coins mark the fourth and final release this year of a Presidential Dollar and the twelfth for the series overall.

"The idea that I should become President seems to me too visionary to require a serious answer. It has never entered my head, nor is it likely to enter the head of any other person," said Zachary Taylor when the idea of his running for President of the United States first appeared.

But, after winning the office with 47.3% of the popular vote, Taylor said : "I have no private purpose to accomplish, no party objectives to build up, no enemies to punish — nothing to serve but my country," and that is what Taylor tried to do for his short tenure.

Born into a comfortable farmers family and brought up on the frontiers of Kentucky, Taylor had little time or access to receive much of a formal education, which was not uncommon for the era. Upon reaching adulthood, Zachary joined the Army and shortly received a commission as a first lieutenant from his cousin James Madison (current President of the United States). Continuing to serve with distinction, Taylor climbed the ranks and was instrumental in the defeat of several Native American tribes before being promoted to brigadier general and given the command of the southern division of the United States Army.
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Gold coins are again the major talking points coming out of the latest US Mint sales data. Buffalo gold proof numbers are less spectacular than those from last week’s report. But they are far from shabby and a retreat from the earlier blazing sales was to be expected.

Standing out also were Ultra High Reliefs, bullion Eagles, Braille dollars and the Mint’s traditional annual sets. All improved over the prior week. Our bullet point analysis follows:

• In less than two weeks, collector 2009 Buffalo Gold Proof Coins surpassed the 2008 sales figures of 25,896. Another 8,487 were added, raising the total to 27,955. In the same family, the sister bullion versions are now at 132,000 for an increase of 15,500 in the last seven days. They are 40,000 shy of topping the same sized 2008-dated sales.

• American Silver Eagles climbed 850,00 during the same seven-day period, which was 151K better than the last. American Gold Eagles spurred ahead 30,000 — more than double the prior figure. November is historically one of the better months of the year for bullion coins.

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The latest batch of US Mint sales figures are out and jumping to the forefront are gold coins — both bullion and collector. The bullion Silver Eagles are moving along as well. The US Mint Set and Proof Set continue with strength, with the former smashing through the 500,000 barrier. These and other highlights follow:

• The US Mint news of the week circled around the inaugural Buffalo Gold Proof sales. 19,468 were sold in four days. That was 123 shy of the 2008 Buffalo Proofs. The 2009 bullion versions are on fire as well. They were released on Oct. 15 and are now at 121,000 — 51,000 short from matching the 2008s.

• American Silver Eagle bullion coins officially recorded their best October ever, reaching 2,939,000 in the month. The US Mint has yet to report any November numbers, but the final two months of a year are generally very strong for eagles. American Eagle Gold coins finished last month with sales of 115,500, making October the 5th best ever for the series.

• UHR $20 Double Eagles recovered from the dip that took weekly sales to their second lowest level ever. 1,045 more were scooped up by collectors, bringing the new total to 102,311.

• Three of four Braille Silver Dollar products performed better than the last round. The Braille Education Set, which went on sale Oct. 15, declined slightly with 793 versus the prior 1,004. In related news, the US Mint announced this week that it would stop selling Braille dollars after 5:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 11. For the record, a total of 202,655 of the authorized 400,000 silver dollars have been sold.

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