Key Takeaways

• The most valuable Presidential Dollars are those with minting errors, particularly missing edge lettering, which includes the phrase “E Pluribus Unum,” the mint mark, and the date.
• The most expensive Presidential Dollar coin is the 2009 SMS William Henry Harrison with missing edge lettering, graded 69/70, which can sell for up to $2,450.
• The least expensive among the top valuable coins is the 2007 SMS Jefferson dollar with missing edge lettering, graded 67, valued at $600.

One curiosity of the American currency system is that, until 2007, the US Mint largely did not feature former US Presidents on dollar coins. Of course, they appear on other coinage, like Lincoln on the penny, Jefferson on the nickel, and Washington on the quarter.

Most of the other former presidents hadn’t really gotten their due until the debut of the Presidential Dollar Coins Program. Now that the program has concluded, there are several of the presidential dollars that have become quite valuable collectors’ items. So, here are the 10 most valuable Presidential Dollar Coins.

List of the Most Valuable Presidential Coins

Presidential Dollars were widely released between 2007 and 2011, then only as collectors’ items afterward. Somewhat surprisingly, all of the most valuable Presidential Dollars are drawn from the circulating coins produced during the prime years of the program.

The reason for their extraordinary value is due to a fairly common minting error that appeared on several of the coins. All Presidential Dollars were designed to feature the phrase “E Pluribus Unum,” the mint mark – where it was minted, and the date of its mintage. In a few cases, coins came out that were missing this feature – and that omission propelled their value skyward.

1. 2009 SMS Harrison Missing Edge Lettering

The most expensive coin of all pays tribute to President William Henry Harrison. Pres. Harrison’s lasting legacy is an unfortunate one, as he only served for a month in office due to his untimely death in April 1841. This coin, valued as much as $2,450 at auction, is part of a Special Mint Set (SMS) that the Mint custom built to sell to collectors. What pushes this coin to the apex is its missing lettering on the edge and its near-perfect condition (69/70).

2. 2008 SMS Van Buren Missing Edge Lettering

The second-most valuable Presidential Dollar honors Harrison’s immediate predecessor, Martin Van Buren. The Van Buren presidency was a short and unhappy one, and he is best remembered as the architect of the organizational structure of the Democratic Party. An SMS version of his dollar that is missing its edge lettering and in pristine condition (68/70) has sold for $2,350 in the past.

3. 2007 Washington Missing Edge Lettering

Coins honoring lesser-known presidents occupy the top two spots for value, but the third-most valuable Presidential Dollar pays tribute to a president who needs little introduction. George Washington’s exploits are the stuff of legend in the US. The combination of missing edge lettering and excellent condition (66/70) yields a coin worth $1,500 – the first of three Presidential Dollars to be worth that amount.

4. 2009 SMS Harrison Missing Edge Lettering

The William Henry Harrison Special Mint Series coin makes its second appearance on the list here. The only difference between the two is a single number downgrade in condition – from 69 to 68 – which means that instead of two pinpoint flaws, the coin might have four. Those two additional pinpoints are enough for the coin only to be worth $1,500, nearly $1000 off the top price.

5. 2009 SMS Tyler Missing Edge Lettering

Another SMS coin worth $1,500 is the one commemorating John Tyler, William Henry Harrison’s vice president who took over after Harrison’s death shortly after the latter took office. Tyler’s presidency was mostly nondescript, but his family life is nothing short of remarkable – as of 2025, Tyler still has a living grandson, despite being born in 1790 and dying in 1862. Whether that trivia contributes to the value of his SMS dollar with missing edge lettering and a 67 grade is a matter for conjecture.

6. 2007 Washington Missing Edge Lettering

As is the case with the Harrison dollars, George Washington’s coin with missing edge lettering  is still one of the ten-most valuable even if you take away a number grade. This coin, graded at 65 out of 70, is worth $1,200 to investors.

7. 2007 Washington Missing Edge Lettering

The next grade down is valuable, too. A 64-grade Washington dollar missing edge lettering is worth $1,000 at auction.

8. 2009 SMS Harrison Missing Edge Lettering

The third SMS Harrison dollar with missing edge lettering on this list, graded at a 67, is the lowest-graded coin of the bunch on this list. However, don’t misunderstand – the imperfections and separations between these three coins are all but imperceptible to anyone outside of coin experts. Unfortunately, those folks are the ones doing the grading, and a Harrison dollar in this condition will fetch no more than $800 at auction.

9. 2010 Pierce Missing Edge Lettering

The penultimate Presidential Dollar on the most valuable list pays homage to a man generally considered to be one of the worst presidents in American history. Franklin Pierce’s term in the 1850s has not aged well historically due to his passionate defense of slavery and his indifference to preserving unity in the country. Still, a coin honoring a random president in near-mint (68/70) condition and sporting a lack of edge lettering is worth as much as $740 to the interested buyer.

10. 2007 SMS Jefferson Missing Edge Lettering

The last Presidential Dollar coin to promise significantly higher sales prices than its face value is the coin honoring one of the country’s Founding Fathers. In fact, Thomas Jefferson may have been the most impactful statesman of them all, as he authored the Declaration of Independence and secured the Louisiana Purchase, upon which 15 states now exist. A 67-grade Special Mint Series Jefferson dollar that is found without edge lettering is worth $600.

The Presidential Dollar Coin Design and Composition

The Presidential Dollar Coin Program was born in response to the Mint’s disappointment in the performance of the Sacagawea dollar. The Mint resolved to strike bust images of each president into the obverse of their respective coins in larger and more dramatic style.

Unlike almost every coin newly designed and issued, the reverses on the Presidential Dollars are uniform across all coins and feature the Statue of Liberty and the face value of the coin.

Each President Dollar is primarily made of copper (88%), but features a brass cladding of manganese, zinc, and copper.

What Makes a Presidential Dollar Coin Valuable?

The determination of a coin’s value hinges on a few key elements.

• Condition: Coins are graded on the Sheldon Coin Grading Scale, which assigns a number value between 1 and 70.
• Mintage: A coin from a lower production year is rarer and usually more valuable.
• Errors: Minting errors like missing edge lettering, die chips, doubled die errors, and off-center strikes can add significant value.

Conclusion

Presidential Dollars can be a fun target for a collector. They are able to be captured in a complete US Mint coin set. They are relatively recent coins and may be easier to find than historical ones.

Finally, some of them may come with errors that could be worth outsized gains to the savvy investor. The Presidential Dollar Series might be just the thing for you.