You’ve probably seen one of these golden-colored coins sitting in a jar or rolling around in your car's cup holder. It’s got that stern-looking guy with the high collar on the front. Honestly, if you aren't a history buff, you might not even recognize him. That’s William Henry Harrison, the man who holds the record for the shortest presidency in American history—only 31 days. But while his time in the White House was a blink, the William Henry Harrison dollar coin has a much weirder, more valuable story than most people realize.
Most folks assume these $1 coins are rare because they don't see them at the grocery store. They aren't. Not exactly. The U.S. Mint pumped out nearly 100 million of these things back in 2009. Specifically, the Philadelphia mint made 43,260,000 and Denver made 55,160,000. So, if you have a regular one, it’s basically worth exactly one dollar.
But here is where it gets interesting.
There are "missing edge lettering" versions out there that collectors go absolutely nuts for. Some of these errors have sold for over $2,400. That’s a lot of money for a coin that was supposed to buy you a bag of chips.
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Why the William Henry Harrison Dollar Coin is a Oddity
The Presidential $1 Coin Program was a big deal when it started in 2007. By the time they got to Harrison in 2009, they decided to change the rules. You see, on the earlier coins like Washington or Adams, the motto "In God We Trust" was tucked away on the edge of the coin. People hated that. There was this huge internet rumor that the Mint was trying to "phase out" God. It wasn't true, but the public outcry was so loud that Congress actually stepped in.
Starting with the William Henry Harrison dollar coin, "In God We Trust" was moved from the edge to the face (obverse) of the coin.
The "Godless" Myth and Reality
If you find a Harrison dollar and the edge is smooth, you've found a genuine mint error. These are often called "Satin Finish" or "SMS" (Special Mint Set) errors if they came from the collector sets. Because the minting process involves a separate machine to "roll" the words onto the edge, sometimes a batch just skips that step.
On a normal Harrison dollar, you should still see the date (2009), the mint mark (P or D), and "E Pluribus Unum" on the edge. If it’s totally blank, you’re looking at a "Smooth Edge" coin.
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Don't get it twisted, though. A lot of people see the motto on the front and think it's a mistake because they're used to the older 2007-2008 coins. Nope. That's just how the Harrison coin was designed. Joseph Menna, the Medallic Artist at the Mint, sculpted the portrait, and he made sure that motto was right there next to Harrison’s chin.
What's It Actually Worth?
Let’s talk money. I’ve seen people on eBay trying to sell a regular, beat-up Harrison dollar for $500. Don't be that person. Nobody is buying those.
- Circulated coins: $1. Just $1.
- Uncirculated (Mint State): Maybe $2 to $5 depending on how shiny it is.
- Proof coins (S mint mark): These were made specifically for collectors and usually go for $8 to $12.
- The Big Winners: A 2009 Special Mint Set (SMS) Harrison dollar with missing edge lettering, graded a 69 by PCGS, sold for $2,450.
Why is the SMS version so much more? Basically, the Mint made these special "Satin Finish" sets for collectors that were supposed to be perfect. When an error happens on a "perfect" coin, the value skyrockets.
Position A vs. Position B
If you look at the edge of your coin, you might notice the writing is "upside down" when the President's face is up. Is it an error? No.
The Mint tosses these coins into the edge-lettering machine like a giant bucket of popcorn. It doesn't matter which side is up when they go through. Collectors call these "Position A" (upside down) and "Position B" (right side up). About 50% are one way and 50% are the other. It doesn't add any value, though some people like to have one of each just for the heck of it.
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The Shortest Term, The Longest Coin Life
It’s kinda ironic that Harrison got a coin at all. He gave a two-hour inaugural speech in the freezing rain without a coat, caught pneumonia, and died a month later. He was the first president to die in office. His grandson, Benjamin Harrison, also got a dollar coin later in the series (in 2012).
The U.S. Mint actually stopped making these for general circulation in 2011 because the Federal Reserve had literally billions of dollar coins sitting in vaults that nobody wanted to use. People just prefer paper. Because the William Henry Harrison dollar coin was minted in 2009, it was one of the last ones you could actually find in your pocket change before they became "collector only" items.
How to Check Your Coins
If you have a stack of these, here is what you should do.
First, look at the edge. Is there writing? If it’s smooth, get it looked at by a pro. Second, look for the mint mark. A "P" means Philadelphia, "D" means Denver, and "S" means San Francisco (those are usually proofs).
Third, check the condition. If it looks like it’s been through a blender, it’s worth a dollar. If it looks like it was just born yesterday and has zero scratches, it might be worth sending in for grading, especially if it's from a 2009 Mint Set.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
- Check your 2009 Mint Sets: If you bought a set from the Mint in 2009, look at the Harrison dollar edge. The "Missing Edge Lettering" error on Satin Finish coins is the holy grail of this specific issue.
- Verify the Motto: Remember that on a Harrison dollar, "In God We Trust" should be on the front. If it's missing from the front and the edge, you have a major strike error.
- Use a Magnifier: Look at the "9th President 1841" inscription. Sometimes you can find "doubled die" errors where the letters look like they have a shadow or a ghost image.
- Don't Clean Them: Seriously. Never clean a coin with soap or polish. It ruins the "numismatic" value instantly and makes it worth face value only.
Knowing what you have is half the battle. While most of these coins are just simple pocket change, the weird history of the 2009 transition makes the Harrison dollar a unique little piece of metal. It's the coin that brought God back to the front of the dollar, even if the man on the face didn't live long enough to see his own legacy.