''Godless'' $1 Washington Error Coin Creates Collector Frenzy

The 2007 $1 Washington dollar is the first coin in a new Presidential dollar series being issued by the U.S. Mint. It was released on February 15, 2007. The U.S. Mint plans to release four new Presidential designs each year (from 2007 to 2016) until each deceased former President has been featured on the obverse.

This new dollar – which is struck on a gold-colored planchet – features several unique characteristics that differ from other circulating U.S. coinage. First, the word “Liberty” does not appear anywhere on the coin. This is the first time the U.S. Mint has struck a regular-issue coin without reference to “Liberty.” Secondly, the new dollars have the inscriptions “In God We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum” incuse (recessed) around the edges of the coin. The year (2007) and the mint mark (“P” for Philadelphia and “D” for Denver) are also struck on the edge. The last regular-issue U.S. coin series to feature lettering on the edge was the famous $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles – a coin struck for the last time in 1933!

Following the release of the Washington dollar, a number of coins were found missing all of the inscriptions and lettering on the edge. By law, any U.S. coin struck since 1866 is required to include the motto “In God We Trust.” This omission constitutes a major U.S. Mint error, and it creates an incredible opportunity for collectors lucky enough to get their hands on one. U.S. Mint errors are among the scarcest and most coveted of all U.S. coinage, and demand for them is always high.

The $1 Washington Error coin in this set is part of a small hoard recently secured by New York Mint. Recognizing the importance of this find, New York Mint had each coin authenticated, certified, graded and encapsulated by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). The specially-designed capsule allows the outer rim of the coin to be clearly visible – proof-positive of the coin’s vaunted “error” stature.