How to Identify the Presidential Dollar - John Adams
The second coin in the Presidential $1 Coin Program, honoring the nation's second president, identifiable by his portrait on the obverse and edge-incused lettering.
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What It Is
The John Adams Presidential Dollar was the second release in the Presidential $1 Coin Program, issued in 2007 to honor the nation's second president in the series' chronological order of presidential terms.
Obverse Design
The obverse shows a portrait of John Adams facing forward-left, with "JOHN ADAMS," his years in office "1797-1801," and "2ND PRESIDENT" inscribed around the design.
Reverse Design
Like the other 2007 and 2008 issues in the series, the reverse depicts the Statue of Liberty along with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "$1."
Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge Lettering
The coin measures 26.5 mm in diameter, weighs 8.1 grams, and is struck in manganese-brass clad over a copper core, giving it a golden color. The mint mark, date, and mottos E PLURIBUS UNUM and IN GOD WE TRUST appear as incused lettering around the edge rather than on either face.
Mint Marks
Look for a small "P," "D," or "S" as part of the lettering incused into the coin's edge, alongside the date.
Telling It Apart From Similar Coins
The portrait and inscribed name make identification simple: any coin reading "JOHN ADAMS" and "2ND PRESIDENT" on the obverse belongs to this issue. It shares its reverse with every other 2007-2008 Presidential dollar, so the obverse portrait and text are what distinguish it from Washington, Jefferson, or Madison dollars from the same years.
Judging Condition at a Glance
Check the fine details of Adams's hair and coat lapels for smoothing, and examine the Statue of Liberty's robe folds and torch flame on the reverse. Because identifying information sits on the edge, inspect it for legibility as well, since heavy wear, cleaning, or damage there can make the mint mark and date hard to read.
Authenticity Red Flags
As with other early Presidential dollars, some coins from this period were affected by edge lettering errors, including plain, smooth edges missing the inscription entirely, or doubled and misaligned lettering, all recognized minting varieties rather than signs of a fake. However, be cautious of coins with edge lettering that looks unusually deep, crude, or inconsistently spaced compared to genuine examples, and verify that weight and diameter match the coin's specifications, since a piece lacking the correct golden clad composition and proper heft would suggest tampering or counterfeiting.
Frequently asked questions
How do I identify a John Adams Presidential Dollar?
Look for his portrait on the obverse along with the inscriptions 'JOHN ADAMS,' '1797-1801,' and '2ND PRESIDENT.'
Where is the mint mark located?
Incused into the coin's edge along with the date, rather than on the obverse or reverse face.
What does the reverse show?
The Statue of Liberty, shared with all Presidential dollars minted in 2007 and 2008.
Are missing edge lettering errors common on this coin?
Some examples from this early period of the series are known to exist with smooth, blank edges due to a minting error, similar to other 2007 issues.
What is the coin's metal composition?
Manganese-brass clad over a copper core, giving it a golden appearance and a weight of 8.1 grams.
Presidential Dollar - John Adams identified by the community
Recent Presidential Dollar - John Adams coins identified with Coin Identifier.
