New dollar coins featuring all 37 of the nation’s dead presidents will begin rolling out of the U.S. Mint in 2007 under a bill President Bush signed into law on Thursday.
Lawmakers hope the coins — and an accompanying $10 gold piece for collectors that features former first ladies — will be a big money raiser for the government like the 50-state quarter program. They also hope the dollar pieces will spur interest in the Sacagawea dollars, which have been little-used.
The front of the new dollar coins will depict former presidents, but not those who are living or have been dead for less than two years; the backs of the coins will show the Statue of Liberty.
Four coins a year will be issued, beginning in 2007, in the presidents’ order of service. The treasury secretary will have authority over the designs.
The bill also creates a gold bullion coin program bearing images of former first ladies and emblems of their causes on $10 coins. Companion coins for those presidents who had no spouse will show images of liberty and themes of the presidents’ tenures. The coins will be 99.99 percent pure gold.
