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Updated February 25, 2021
U.S. Dollar Coins: History and Current Status
The Secretary of Treasury, through the U.S. Mint, is
contributions made by Indian Tribes and individual Native
statutorily authorized to issue specific denominations of
Americans to the development of the United States and the
circulating coins (31 U.S.C. §5112). The dollar coin was
history of the United States” on the reverse. Figure 1 shows
first authorized in the Coinage Act of 1792 (1 Stat. 246) and
the 2020 and 2021 Native American $1 coins.
initially featured images such as Liberty on the (front)
obverse and eagles on the (back) reverse. The first dollar
Figure 1. 2020 and 2021 Native American $1 Coins
coin to feature a President was issued in 1971
(Eisenhower). Since then, the Mint has redesigned the $1
coin several times.
Circulating vs. Commemorative Coins
Generally, dollar coins are either circulating (i.e., sold by
the U.S. Mint to the Federal Reserve for distribution to
American financial institutions and used as money to
exchange for goods and services) or commemorative (i.e.,
sold by the Mint to collectors to honor someone or
something). The U.S. Mint also produces silver and gold
bullion $1 coins.
As with other coinage, the U.S. Mint sells $1 coins to the
Federal Reserve, which in turn fulfills orders from banks. In
2011, the number of surplus (e.g., nondistributed by the
Federal Reserve) $1 coins had grown to nearly 1.4 billion.
To address this situation, on December 13, 2011, the
Secretary of the Treasury issued an order to reduce the
number of surplus $1 coins. Since the order, most $1 coins
have been considered “circulating numismatic” items (i.e.,
they could be ordered by the Federal Reserve for

circulation, but are generally only produced in quantities
Source: U.S. Mint.
necessary to meet collector demand).
Presidential $1 Coins
Circulating $1 Coins
Between 2007 and 2016, the U.S. Mint issued $1 coins to
In recent years, the U.S. Mint has produced $1 coins as a
honor each deceased former President (P.L. 109-145).
part of three different programs: Native American $1 coins,
These coins featured the President on the obverse and the
presidential $1 coins, and American Innovation $1 coins .
Statue of Liberty on the reverse. In January 2020, a $1 coin
The Native American $1 and American Innovation $1 coins
for President George H.W. Bush was authorized (P.L. 116-
are currently in production.
112). Figure 2 shows the George H.W. Bush Presidential
$1 Coin.
The first dollar coin to feature a President was issued in
1971 (Eisenhower). Between the 1971 Eisenhower $1 coin
Figure 2. George H.W. Bush Presidential $1 Coin
and the issuance of President and Native American $1
coins, the U.S. Mint redesigned the $1 coin twice. In 1976,
the Bicentennial $1 coin was issued. It featured President
Dwight D. Eisenhower on the obverse and the Liberty Bell
and moon on the reverse. In 1979 and 1981 and in 1999 the
Susan B. Anthony $1 coin was issued. It featured Susan B.
Anthony on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse.
Native American $1 Coins
Circulating $1 coins currently honor Native Americans and
the important contributions made by Indian Tribes and

individuals in U.S. history (31 U.S.C. §5112(r)). First
Source: U.S. Mint, “George H.W. Bush Presidential $1 Coin,” at
issued in 2008, they feature Sacagawea on the obverse and
https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/presidential-
a design that “bear[s] images celebrating the important
dol ar-coin/george-hw-bush.
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U.S. Dol ar Coins: History and Current Status
The American Innovation $1 Coin
authorized denomination has been the $1 silver coin. Some
Since 2018, the U.S. Mint has issued American Innovation
coin programs authorize only a $1 silver coin, while others
$1 coins (P.L. 115-197). These coins feature the Statue of
include the $1 silver coin in combination with $5 gold
Liberty on the obverse and a unique design emblematic of a
and/or $0.50 clad coins . In 2021, the U.S. Mint will strike
significant innovation or innovator(s) from each state on the
$1 coins to honor Chris ta McAuliffe ($1 silver coin only)
reverse. These coins are circulating numismatic items. The
and the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum
Mint will only produce enough to meet collector demand.
in Washington, DC (along with $5 gold and $0.50 clad
coins).
The American Innovation $1 coins are being minted in the
order the states ratified the constitution or were admitted to
In 2021, the U.S. Mint will also strike silver $1 coins in
the Union. Once all 50 states have been honored, the
honor of the 100th anniversary of the Morgan dollar and
District of Columbia’s and the territories’ coins will be
Peace dollar coins (P.L. 116-286). Figure 4 shows the
minted. The final coins will be minted in 2032. Figure 3
Morgan and Peace dollar designs presented to the Citizens
shows the 2020 South Carolina American Innovation $1
Coinage Advisory Commission in January 2021.
coin.
Figure 4. 2021 Morgan and Peace Dollars
Figure 3. 2020 South Carolina American Innovation
$1 Coin

Source: U.S. Mint, “American Innovation $1 Coin-South Carolina,”
at https://www.usmint.gov/learn/kids/library/american-innovation-
dol ar-coins/sc-septima-clark.
2026 Semiquincentennial
In January 2021, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign
Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-330) was enacted. The legislation
redesigns dollar coins to celebrate the Semiquincentennial
(250th anniversary) of the United States. For the 250th
anniversary of the United States, the U.S. Mint is
authorized to issue new $1 coins “with designs emblematic

of the United States semiquincentennial.”
Source: Citizens Coinage Advisory Commission, “CCAC Meeting
Semiquincentennial $1 coins would be issued in addition to
Images for the 2021 Moran and Peace Silver $1 Coins,” January 19,
the Native American and American Innovation $1 coins in
2021, at https://www.usmint.gov/news/ccac-meetings/2021-morgan-
2026.
and-peace-silver-dol ar-coins.
Commemorative $1 Coins
For additional information on circulating coins, see CRS In
The U.S. Mint produces commemorative coins pursuant to
Focus IF10533, Congressional Involvement in the Design of
an act of Congress. These coins celebrate and honor
Circulating Coins. For additional information on
American people, places, events, and institutions. Although
commemorative coins, see CRS In Focus IF10262,
they are legal tender, they are not minted for general
Commemorative Coins: An Overview.
circulation.
Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress
First issued in 1892, commemorative coins can be issued as
IF11190
$5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, or $0.50 clad coins, or as a
combination of coins. Historically, the most popular

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U.S. Dol ar Coins: History and Current Status

Disclaimer
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11190 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED