2011 dollar coins begin with Johnson

This article was originally printed in the latest issue of Numismatic News.
>> Subscribe today!

The fifth year of the Presidential dollar coin series will begin with a coin honoring the 17th chief executive, Andrew Johnson, who was the first President to be impeached. According to the Mint, it will be released to circulation sometime in February 2011.

Collector versions will become available in popular annual collector sets in January.

Johnson’s portrait and those of the next three of his successors were released by the U.S. Mint in late December.

Shown in left-facing profile, the portrait of Johnson was created and sculpted by U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart.

Everhart also designed and sculpted the obverse designs for the following two 2011-dated dollar coins, which honor Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes, who lost the popular vote in 1876 to Samuel Tilden, but who won by one vote in the electoral college.

Grant’s portrait is full-facing and Hayes is shown facing right.

Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill designed and sculpted the obverse design of the James Garfield dollar, showing the 20th President in a three-quarters facing portrait looking right. Garfield, like Lincoln, was assassinated in office.

The Statue of Liberty is depicted on the common reverse design. It, too, was done by Everhart.

Presidential dollars are issued at a rate of four coins a year, or roughly one every three months. Presidents must be deceased for two years in order to be included in the series.