John Adams Dollar Coin: The Ultimate Collector‘s Guide to Value and Rare Errors

Are you curious about that golden dollar coin featuring America‘s second president, John Adams? You‘ve come to the right place. The John Adams dollar coin was minted in 2007 as part of the Presidential $1 Coin Program. While most of these coins are worth just a buck, some rare errors and varieties can be worth hundreds or even thousands to collectors.

In this ultimate guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about John Adams dollar coin value, including:

• How to identify a genuine John Adams dollar coin
• A price chart for coins in different conditions
• The most valuable John Adams dollar errors and varieties
• How to properly grade your Presidential dollar coins
• Tips for buying and selling John Adams dollars

Whether you‘re a seasoned collector or just stumbled upon one of these coins in your pocket change, read on to discover if you have a valuable John Adams dollar on your hands!

What Is the Presidential $1 Coin Program?

In 2005, Congress passed the Presidential $1 Coin Act to honor America‘s presidents with a series of circulating commemorative coins. Starting in 2007, the U.S. Mint began issuing four Presidential dollar coins per year, featuring presidents in the order they served.

The obverse (front) of each coin features a portrait of a president, while the reverse depicts the Statue of Liberty. These coins have the same golden color as the Sacagawea dollar due to their copper core and outer layers made of copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel.

The John Adams dollar was the second coin released in the series on May 17, 2007 and was minted until 2008 when the next designs were issued. Despite their interesting designs, the Presidential dollar series never really caught on with the public, so most ended up being stockpiled by the Federal Reserve rather than circulating widely.

Identifying a John Adams Dollar Coin

The John Adams dollar coin is pretty easy to identify thanks to the prominent portrait on the obverse. Here are the key features to look for:

Obverse:

• Profile portrait of John Adams facing left
• "JOHN ADAMS" inscription
• "2nd PRESIDENT" and "1797-1801" inscriptions noting his term
• "IN GOD WE TRUST" motto
• Year of minting
• Mint mark (if any)

Reverse:

• Statue of Liberty portrait
• "$1" denomination
• "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" inscription

The coin also has distinctive lettered edges featuring the mottos "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and the year and mint mark. It has a diameter of 26.5 mm and weighs 8.1 grams.

One thing to note is mint marks – coins from the Philadelphia mint have no mark, while those from Denver have a "D" and San Francisco coins bear an "S." Mint marks can be found on both the obverse and edge inscriptions.

John Adams Dollar Coin Value Chart

So how much is a John Adams dollar coin worth? Like most modern coins, the answer depends mainly on the coin‘s condition and mint mark. Here‘s a chart with average values for John Adams dollars in different grades:

Mint Mark	Circulated (Worn)	MS-60 (Uncirculated)	MS-65 (Gem Uncirculated)	MS-69 (Perfect)
P (Philadelphia)	$1	$1.50	$3	$25
D (Denver)	$1	$1.50	$3	$25
S (San Francisco)	N/A	N/A	$3	$25

As you can see, most circulated John Adams dollars are only worth their $1 face value. Even uncirculated coins only sell for a buck or two unless in pristine MS-69 condition.

However, there are some rare errors and varieties that make certain John Adams dollar coins very valuable to collectors. Let‘s take a look at some of the most notable…

Rare and Valuable John Adams Dollar Errors

1. Missing Edge Lettering

Some 2007 John Adams dollars were released without the edge lettering that‘s meant to be inscribed on the coin. Coins with this error regularly sell for $50-100 since it‘s an obvious and intriguing mistake.

The most valuable "Missing Edge Lettering" John Adams dollar sold for $489 in 2008. It was graded MS-62 by PCGS.

2. Multiple Edge Lettering

An even more dramatic error is when the edge lettering is imprinted multiple times at different angles. This rare error can push values into the hundreds of dollars.

In 2008, a John Adams dollar with tripled edge lettering sold for a whopping $3,335! It was described as "D/S on 9gms aluminum" and remains one of the most valuable Presidential dollars ever sold.

3. Mule Errors

"Mule" errors occur when a coin is struck with mismatched dies, often from different denominations or designs not meant to be paired together.

Some 2007 John Adams dollars have been discovered with a "mule" reverse die featuring the Statue of Liberty design from the Sacagawea dollar coin. These rare errors are worth $150-300 to collectors.

4. Die Cracks and Cuds

Die cracks and "cuds" (blobs of raised metal) occur when the coin dies become brittle and start to break apart with use. Minor die cracks are relatively common and don‘t add much value. But major cracks and cuds can turn John Adams dollars into prize errors.

In 2016, a John Adams dollar with a large curved die crack on the obverse sold for $270 on eBay. The crack extended from the rim into Adams‘ head.

5. Double Die Errors

Double die errors happen when the coin die imprints its image twice at slightly offset angles. This results in a "doubled" appearance of lettering, portraits, and other design elements.

Some 2007 P John Adams dollars exhibit distinct doubling on the front inscription "IN GOD WE TRUST." These coins are worth $50-100 when the doubling is prominent.

How to Grade John Adams Dollar Coins

As we saw in the value chart earlier, a coin‘s grade has a huge impact on its worth. Here‘s a quick crash course in grading John Adams dollars:

• Circulated (Worn): Coins that were used as money will show varying degrees of wear on the high points of the design. Circulated John Adams dollars are usually only worth face value.

• About Uncirculated (AU): A coin with only slight wear on the high points. John Adams dollars in AU condition sell for around $2.

• Uncirculated (Mint State): Coins that were never used as money and remain in brand new condition. The grade is determined by factors like luster, contact marks, and blemishes.

  • MS-60 to MS-62: Uncirculated but with obvious marks and hairlines. Worth $2-3.
  • MS-63 to MS-64: Choice uncirculated with some light marks. Worth $5-10.
  • MS-65 to MS-69: Gem uncirculated to perfect coins with minimal marks. Worth $10-30.

• Proof: Special collector coins struck with polished dies and planchets, featuring mirror-like backgrounds and frosted, detailed designs. Proof John Adams dollars from the San Francisco mint are worth $3 in PR-65 up to $50+ in perfect PR-70.

If you think you have a valuable John Adams dollar, it‘s best to have it professionally graded by a third-party grading service like PCGS or NGC. They will authenticate the coin, assign a numeric grade from 1-70, and encapsulate it in a protective case.

Buying and Selling John Adams Dollars

Want to buy a John Adams dollar coin for your collection? Or think you‘re ready to sell one you own? Here are some tips for collectors:

Tips for Buying:

• Decide what kind of John Adams dollar you want, whether it‘s a nice uncirculated example or a rare error coin.
• Determine a fair price by checking the value chart and recent sold listings on eBay.
• Buy from reputable dealers or sellers. Look for ones that offer a money-back guarantee and have good reviews.
• Consider getting expensive coins graded before buying so you know exactly what you‘re getting.

Tips for Selling:

• Get your John Adams dollar professionally graded if it‘s potentially valuable. Many collectors will only buy Presidential dollars in certified holders.
• Take high-quality photos of your coin to show off its luster and design details.
• Price competitively based on your coin‘s grade and recent sales of comparable examples. Don‘t forget to factor in seller fees if using eBay or an auction house.
• Be patient. It may take some time to find the right buyer, especially for rare error coins.

You can buy and sell John Adams dollars on online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook groups for coin collectors, dealer websites, coin shows, and live auctions.

John Adams Dollar FAQs

Still have questions about John Adams dollar coins? Here are answers to some of the most common queries collectors have:

Q: Is a John Adams dollar coin rare?
A: With mintages in the hundreds of millions, John Adams dollars are quite common overall. However, some error coins are very rare, with only a small number known to exist.

Q: How much is a John Adams dollar coin from 2007 worth?
A: A regular 2007 John Adams dollar in circulated condition is only worth $1. Uncirculated coins range in value from $1.50 in MS-60 to $25 in perfect MS-69. Some 2007 errors are worth $100-1,000+.

Q: What is the most valuable John Adams dollar coin?
A: The auction record for a John Adams dollar is $3,335 for a "D/S on 9gms aluminum" edge error coin sold in 2009. "Missing Edge Lettering" errors have also sold for nearly $500.

Q: Are there any silver John Adams dollars?
A: No, all John Adams dollars are "golden" in color due to being made from a copper core with manganese-brass cladding.

Q: How many John Adams coins were minted?
A: Over 228 million John Adams dollars were struck in 2007-2008, including:

• 112,420,000 at the Philadelphia mint
• 112,140,000 at the Denver mint
• 3,965,989 proofs at the San Francisco mint

Q: Why is John Adams on the $1 coin?
A: John Adams was featured on the second Presidential dollar coin because he was the 2nd U.S. President, serving from 1797 to 1801. The series honored presidents in the order they served.

In Summary

John Adams dollar coins may not be made of precious metal, but some are worth far more than face value to collectors. Now that you know how to identify, grade, and value these coins, you‘re ready to start cherry picking valuable John Adams dollars in circulation and collecting!

Remember, most worn John Adams dollars you‘ll find in change are only worth $1, so focus your efforts on uncirculated coins, proof issues, and rare errors/varieties with missing or multiple edge lettering, die cracks, and doubling. Get your coins professionally graded for the best resale value.

Happy collecting!