Zachary Taylor Presidential Dollar
The Zachary Taylor Dollar was the final release of 2009 for the Presidential Dollar coin series. It also represented the twelfth release in the series overall. The official release into circulation took place on November 19, 2009.
After a long army career during which he served in many remote outposts and led forces to victory in the Mexican-American War, he was elected as the twelfth President of the United States. He only served 16 months in office before he became ill and died. He was the second President to die in office.
An official launch ceremony for the Zachary Taylor Presidential Dollar was held on November 24, 2009 in Orange, Virginia to coincide with the 225th Anniversary of his birth. Highlights of the ceremony included a coin pour by US Mint Deputy Director Andrew Brunhart and a descendant of Zachary Taylor, and the performance of music written for Taylor during the 1840s by the 392nd Army Band.
The Zachary Taylor Dollar obverse features a portrait of former President as designed and sculpted by Don Everhart. The obverse inscriptions include “Zachary Taylor,” “In God We Trust,” “12th President,” and the years of his Presidential term “1849-1850.”
The reverse of the coin features a rendition of the Statue of Liberty also designed and sculpted by Don Everhart. This design has been used throughout the Presidential Dollar series.
As a change from prior years, the placement of the “In God We Trust” motto appears on the obverse of the coin. The motto “E Pluribus Unum,” the date, and mint mark will continue to appear on the edge lettering of the coin.
The overall mintage for the Zachary Taylor Presidential Dollar set another fresh low for the series. The circulation mintage of 78,260,000 was nearly 10 million coins lower than the mintage for the prior release.
Zachary Taylor Dollar Coin Specifications:
- Diameter: 26.5 mm
- Weight: 8.1g
- Thickness: 2.0 mm
- Edge: Lettered
- Composition: 88.5% copper, 6% zinc, 3.5% manganese, 2% nickel
- Mintage:41,580,000 (Philadelphia), 36,680,000 (Denver)
Other 2009 Presidential Dollars:
