2007-S Washington Presidential $1 Coin Proof : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

The Presidential Dollar series was produced continuously from 2007 through 2016, and then resumed in 2020 for a coin honoring President George H.W. Bush following his passing after the mandate of the original program. For most of the series’ duration, the United States Mint issued four coins per year, along with the Sacagawea/Native American Dollar, which by law, had a mintage of 20% of the annual dollar coin output.

The Presidential Dollar legislation’s proponents had ample evidence to show that no dollar coin program in the Mint’s history had succeeded and that the failure of the Sacagawea Dollar to gain traction was largely due to the continued production of the $1 Federal Reserve Note. Past precedent be damned, the bill’s sponsors hoped that the release of a circulating commemorative dollar series would ignite enthusiasm for the coin and serve as an educational tool to acquaint Americans with the country’s former Commanders-in-Chief.

A Mint press release dated August 15, 2007 (the day before the release of the 2007 Thomas Jefferson Presidential Dollar) said as much, revealing in a survey that most American’s didn’t know that Jefferson even was the nation’s third President, let alone the author of the Declaration of Independence. The Mint’s research mirrored what others had been saying anecdotally for years, as America’s educational system sidelined courses on civics and government to focus attention on other subjects, such as math and reading.

Predictably, the Presidential Dollar coin did not circulate to any great extent; by 2012, production of the coin was reduced to numbers necessary to meet the demand of the Mint’s numismatic customers. Any hope the program had to teach kids about the Presidencies of William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, or Warren G. Harding through coins was lost.

Be that as it may, the first year of the program was met with enthusiasm (by collectors, at least), as the first four releases were household names: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. From here, the bright spots would be few and far between- Lincoln in 2010, Teddy Roosevelt in 2013, Franklin D. Roosevelt in 2014, Eisenhower and Kennedy in 2015, and the “Gipper” Ronald Reagan in 2016.

Each coin was released alongside a gold $10 coin that was struck to honor the First Spouse. For those who could not afford the gold coin, a copper medallion featuring the same design was issued at an affordable price.

Washington, being the first United States President under the Constitution, was honored with the first coin. Circulation strikes were produced at the Denver and Philadelphia mints, while the 2007-S George Washington Presidential Dollar Proof was struck at the San Francisco Mint and sold across a number of the Mint’s 2007 product offerings. These products included the Presidential Dollar Proof Set, the Silver and Clad Annual Proof Sets, and the Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set, which also included an intaglio print and a facsimile signature of the President (that same signature would feature on the 2018 American Innovation Dollar).

Across all product options, the Mint reported sales of 3,965,989 2007-S Presidential Dollar Proofs.

2007-S George Washington Presidential Dollar Coin Proof Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

The most common ordering options for the 2007-S Washington Presidential Dollar were the 2007 United States Mint Clad and Silver Proof Sets, which featured one of every coin issued for circulation in 2007. The Sacagawea Dollar was housed alongside the Lincoln Memorial Cent, Jefferson Nickel (Monticello Reverse Resumed), Roosevelt Dime, and Kennedy Half Dollar Proofs in one plastic holder, while State Quarters for Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, and Utah were housed in a second holder.

The holder for the 2007 Presidential Dollars (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison) in the Proof Sets featured an oil painting backdrop of the U.S. flag and the Constitution. This same packaging was used on the standalone Presidential $1 Coin Proof Set, first offered for sale at $14.95 on June 15, 2007.

Today, the Presidential $1 Coin Proof Sets typically sell for under $10 each, although sales have been reported for as little as $4 (face value!). For those seeking only the dollar coins of that year, these sets are the best option.

Collectors could also purchase the coin as part of the Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set, which was produced in cooperation with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and included an intaglio-printed copy of Adam’s signature provided by the White House Historical Association. This set was offered for sale in 2008, at an issue price of $19.95; today they sell for about $12.

As for the certified market, more than 62,000 examples of the 2007-S George Washington Presidential Dollar have been graded by NGC and PCGS, where the coins typically grade Proof 69 or Proof 70 Deep Cameo/Ultra Cameo. Collectors of modern certified coins prefer the 70s over the 69s because of the perception that modern coins graded 70 are “perfect”. In truth, the grading companies put forth a narrow definition of the qualities necessary to earn a perfect grade. They are usually graded in bulk, and human graders purposefully make the certification determination with low magnification. Of all the inefficiencies in the rare coin market, the grading of ultra-modern coins is the one most obviously begging for innovation.

Modern Proof coins certified Proof 69 generally trade for little more than their raw counterparts, with the cost of certification being more than the retail value of the coin. This is a problem with the economics of modern coin certification that we discuss with our concept of the Terminal Grade. Proof 70 Deep Cameo/Ultra Cameo is the only viable grade for market makers.

Most 2007-S George Washington Presidential Dollars were certified during the post-release window when excitement for the new series was at its highest. Today, these coins sell for $20 or less – which, again, is lower than the cost of standard submission rates. Bulk submitters likely get a deal that puts the coin close to breaking even. As a result, only one 2007-S George Washington Presidential Dollar in Proof 70 has been added to the NGC census since at least September 2024.

Recent eBay sales show a pattern of Proof 70 coins selling for $25-$30, often at a fixed price – more or less the same price they brought 10-15 years ago.

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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Top Population: PCGS PR70DCAM (1,703, 1/2025), NGC PF70UCAM (10,094, 1/2025), and CAC N/A (0, 1/2025).

• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay, January 10, 2025 – $32. 1 bid.
• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay, January 9, 2025 – $44. Buy It Now.
• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay, December 28, 2024 – $29.99. Buy It Now.
• NGC PF70UCAM: eBay, December 26, 2024 – $22. Buy It Now.
• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay, December 23, 2024 – $32. 1 bid.
• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay, December 18, 2024 – $18. Buy It Now.
• NGC PF70UCAM: eBay, December 19, 2024 – $24.50. 2 bids.

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Design

Obverse:

The obverse of the 2007 Washington Presidential Dollar features a three-quarters profile portrait of George Washington, engraved by future Chief Engraver Joseph F. Menna. Wrapping clockwise around the top of the design is the inscription GEORGE WASHINGTON; Running counterclockwise beneath the effigy of Washington is the inscription 1st PRESIDENT 1789-1797.

Common Reverse:

Don Everhart’s reverse design features an ant’s-eye view of the Statue of Liberty offset to the left. On the coin, Liberty occupies the bottom right quadrant, her extended elbow being the coin’s center point. The design is framed by a thin inner circle, which separates the graphic design from the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Beneath Liberty’s extended torch-bearing arm is the denomination $1. This is the common reverse design for all Presidential Dollar coins.

Edge:

The edge of the Presidential Dollar is lettered and features the mottos IN GOD WE TRUST and E PLURIBUS UNUM, the mintmark, the year of issuance, and 13 five-pointed stars. This edge inscription may be oriented facing the obverse (Position A) or the reverse (Position B).

Coin Specifications

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