How to Identify the George Washington Presidential Dollar
A collector's walkthrough for confirming the 2007 Washington golden dollar: the left-facing portrait, Statue of Liberty reverse, edge lettering, size, and known errors.
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Start with the obverse portrait. This coin shows George Washington facing left, paired with his name and his standing as the first president. Because Washington appears on the quarter and other coins, use the golden color and dollar size together with the portrait to place it in the Presidential $1 series rather than confusing it with a quarter.
Check the format and edge. The Presidential dollars carry no date or mint mark on the faces; instead the edge is plain (not reeded) and incised with lettering. Rotate the coin and read the year 2007, the mint mark, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and normally IN GOD WE TRUST. A coin missing that edge lettering is the 'Godless' error variety and is worth examining closely. The common reverse for the whole series is the Statue of Liberty, so an image-only obverse view like this one is confirmed by the portrait plus the edge inscriptions.
Verify size, weight, and metal. A genuine coin is about 26.5 mm across and roughly 8.1 grams, matching the Sacagawea golden dollar planchet. It has a warm brass-gold tone, is non-magnetic, and shows a copper-toned core only if the clad layer is worn through. It is larger and heavier than a quarter but has a smooth lettered edge rather than a reeded one.
Locate the mint mark within the edge lettering: P for Philadelphia, D for Denver, and S for San Francisco proofs. Look-alikes and cautions: do not confuse the golden color with real gold, and be aware that Sacagawea and Native American dollars share the same size and golden appearance, so the Washington portrait and '1st President' text are what set this coin apart. For valuable error coins such as missing or doubled edge lettering, third-party certification from a recognized grading service like PCGS or NGC confirms the variety and grade.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell this from a Sacagawea or Native American dollar?
They share the same golden color, size, and weight. The difference is the design: this coin shows George Washington's left-facing portrait and '1st President' text, while the others show Sacagawea and a child on the obverse.
Where do I find the date and mint mark?
On the edge, not the faces. Turn the coin on its side and read the incised lettering for the year 2007, the mint mark (P, D, or S), and the mottoes.
How can I check the metal and authenticity?
A genuine coin is about 26.5 mm, roughly 8.1 grams, non-magnetic, and golden from a manganese-brass clad surface over copper. It has a smooth lettered edge, not a reeded one.
Which Washington dollars are worth having certified?
Error coins are the main candidates, especially missing-edge-lettering 'Godless' dollars and doubled or inverted edge lettering. High-grade or proof examples can also merit certification by PCGS or NGC.