The Chester Arthur Presidential Dollar (Buy on eBay) marked a significant shift for the coin series created to honor the former Presidents of the United States. This was the first coin which was not produced and distributed for general circulation, but only struck in limited quantities for release within numismatic products.
Chester Arthur assumed the Presidency in October 1881, succeeding James Garfield after his assassination. He served as vice president for only six months before that and had previously worked as the Collector of the Port of New York. Throughout his presidential tenure, he championed civil service reform.
Leading up to the sixth year of the series, there had been some controversy and debate about the status of the program. The legislative requirement for Federal Reserve Banks to make the coins available during an introductory period led to an unintended stockpile of coins, stored at the expense of taxpayers. In response, several bills were introduced in Congress seeking to limit or abolish the series.
Meanwhile, a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined savings of billions of dollars if the United States switched from paper dollars to coins. This prompted a bill which would require the transition to dollar coins within four years. Although none of the legislation became law, the Treasury Department used existing authority to suspend production of the coins for circulation.
After a delay from the original release date, the United States Mint began sales of rolls and boxes containing circulating quality examples of the Chester Arthur Presidential Dollar from either the Philadelphia or Denver Mint. On April 5, 2012, sales began for 25-coin rolls priced at $32.95, 250-coin boxes priced at $275.95, and 500-coin boxes priced at $550.95. On April 30, 100-coin bags were offered for sale priced at $111.95 each. All products came in special numismatic packaging, which indicated the President, mint mark, and face value of the contents.
Sales levels for these products quickly surpassed the U.S. Mint’s initial demand estimate of 5 million coins. This required the Mint to restart production of the coins to fulfill demand from collector orders. Across the Philadelphia and Denver Mint facilities, the Mint would strike 10,080,000 circulating quality coins in total.
Later in the year, Chester Arthur Dollars were also included in the typically offered First Day Cover, annual sets, and newly introduced 4-coin sets.
The obverse of the coin was designed and sculpted by Don Everhart. The portrait was surrounded by the required inscriptions indicating the President’s name, “IN GOD WE TRUST,” the order of the Presidency, and the years served.
The reverse design of the coin carried the familiar rendition of the Statue of Liberty also designed by Don Everhart with inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and the denomination “$1.”
Coin Specifications:
- Denomination: $1.00
- Composition: 88.5% copper, 6% zinc, 3.5% manganese, 2% nickel
- Diameter: 26.5 mm
- Weight: 8.1g
- Thickness: 2.0 mm
- Edge: lettered
Coin Mintages:
- Philadelphia: 6,020,000
- Denver: 4,060,000
- San Francisco (Proof): 1,438,743
Other 2012 Presidential Dollars:
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