For the first four years of the series, the United States Mint produced Satin Finish Presidential Dollars (Buy on eBay). These coins were specially minted and offered to collectors within certain annual sets and other numismatic products.
The Satin Finish is created by sandblasting the faces of the coin dies and burnishing the coin blanks before striking them. This process produces coins with softer, satin-like luster that sets them apart from the more brilliant finish used for circulation strike coins. Satin Finish coins made their debut in the 2005 Mint Set and remained in use when the Presidential Dollar Program started in 2007.
The Philadelphia and Denver Mints produced the Satin Finish Presidential Dollars form 2007 to 2010. A subset of Satin Finish coins would include 32 different issues.
After 2010, the Mint abandoned the Satin Finish coins. From 2011 onwards, the U.S. Mint resumed the brilliant finish for coins included within the annual Mint Set and other products. The Mint indicated that the finish would no longer be used since it made surface marks from coin handling more apparent. According to the Mint, the Brilliant Finish would result in coins with more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Sets Including Satin Finish Presidential Dollars
- 2007-2010 Annual Mint Sets
- 2007-2010 Presidential Dollar Uncirculated Coin Sets
- 2007-2010 Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Sets
- 2007-2008 Annual Uncirculated Dollar Coin Sets
Third party coin grading companies PCGS and NGC differentiate satin finish Presidential Dollars from regular circulation strikes. The coins are designated “SMS” or “Satin Finish.” It is generally possible to achieve higher numeric grades for Satin Finish coins, although for many issues it can be difficult to receive high grades like MS69.
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