Coins of Valor: The Zachary Taylor One Dollar Coin

How many coins we will have to study... There are a lot of them: ancient, unique, foreign, expensive. The list of them can be endless.

Today we will talk about the Zachary Taylor one dollar coin. What is this coin? How much does it cost on the numismatics market? And who is this Zachary anyway?

A Few Words from History

Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States (March 1849 - July 1850). He was born on November 24, 1784, in Barboursville, Virginia. His father, Richard Taylor, was a lieutenant colonel in the American Revolutionary War.

Taylor had a long career in the U.S. Army, beginning in 1808. He fought in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War and the Second Seminole War. He also gained national fame as a military leader during the Mexican-American War (for his victories at the Battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma and Buena Vista).

Taylor was elected president in 1848 as a member of the Whig Party, despite having no prior political experience. His presidency was marked by increasing sectional tensions over the issue of slavery. Taylor, a slave owner himself, took a moderate stance, supporting the admission of California and New Mexico as free states, which angered many Southerners.

Taylor opposed the Compromise of 1850. It is a series of measures that were proposed to address the issue of slavery in territories acquired during the Mexican-American War. He believed that admitting California as a free state should be done without compromise.

Taylor's term was cut short by his sudden death on July 9, 1850, after only 16 months in office. The exact cause of his death remains unclear, but it is generally attributed to acute gastroenteritis. But there are some theories that suggest other possibilities.

After his death, Millard Fillmore, his vice president, succeeded him and signed the Compromise of 1850 into law. Taylor is often remembered more for his military achievements than his brief tenure as president

Related article: The 1907 Saint Gaudens and the 1933 Coins. 

One Dollar Coin with Zachary Taylor Portrait

This coin is part of the Presidential $1 Coin Program. It was authorized by the Presidential Coin Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-145). This program was designed to honor each of the U.S. Presidents by issuing coins with their images. 

The program began in 2007 and was intended to produce coins featuring every deceased U.S. President in the order they served. Each year, four different coins were issued.

Each coin features the portrait of a president on the obverse (front) and the Statue of Liberty on the reverse (back). The edge of the coin includes inscriptions of the year of minting, the mint mark and the inscriptions "E Pluribus Unum" and "In God We Trust."

Design

Obverse (Front): Features a portrait of Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States. The inscriptions include his name, "Zachary Taylor," "In God We Trust," "12th President" and the years of his presidency, "1849-1850."

Reverse (Back): Depicts the Statue of Liberty, which is consistent across all coins in the Presidential $1 Coin Program. The inscriptions include "United States of America" and the denomination "$1."

Edge

Edge Lettering: Includes the inscriptions "E Pluribus Unum," the mint mark and the year of issuance. This edge lettering is a distinctive feature of the Presidential coins.

Material and Specifications

Composition: The coin is made of a manganese-brass alloy, consisting of 77% copper, 12% zinc, 1% other. Although some numismatists google “Zachary Taylor one dollar gold coins,” this is not right, as the coin is not made out of gold. 

Weight: 8.1 grams

Diameter: 26.5 millimeters

Issuance

Release Date: The Zachary Taylor coin was released into circulation on November 19, 2009.

Designer: Don Everhart (an American sculptor and engraver known for his work with the United States Mint. He has made significant contributions to coin design during his tenure). 

These coins are popular among collectors, especially those who want to complete the full set of the Presidential $1 Coin Program. While they are legal tender, their use in everyday transactions is relatively rare.

Zachary Taylor One Dollar Coin: What Is It Worth?

The one dollar coin with Zachary Taylor value depends on its condition, rarity and whether it is a regular circulation coin or a special collector's edition. Here's a general breakdown:

Face Value

Circulation Coins: The face value of a Zachary Taylor one dollar coin is $1. These coins were intended for everyday use and are typically worth their face value if they have been circulated.

Collector Value

Uncirculated Coins: How much is a Zachary Taylor one dollar coin worth among collectors? Uncirculated Zachary Taylor dollars, which have never been used in circulation, can be worth slightly more than their face value ($1.50 - $3.00). It depends on their condition and mint mark.

Proof Coins: These are specially minted coins for collectors that have a mirror-like finish. These Zachary Taylor one dollar coins’ value is often between $3.00 and $5.00 or more.

Mint Marks: Coins from different mints (e.g., "P" for Philadelphia, "D" for Denver, "S" for San Francisco) can have varying values. For example, coins with an "S" mint mark are typically proofs and are more valuable to collectors.

Factors Affecting Value

Condition: Coins in better condition (e.g., uncirculated or proof condition) are worth more than those that have been heavily circulated.

Mint Mark: The mint mark can influence the coin's value. Proof coins from the San Francisco Mint, for example, tend to be more valuable.

Rarity: Although Zachary Taylor dollar coins are not particularly rare, certain error coins or those from special sets can have higher values.

As of now, the typical market value for an uncirculated or proof Zachary Taylor dollar coin is modest, reflecting its relatively recent issuance and ample availability.

Note: If you have a Zachary Taylor dollar coin and want an accurate valuation, consider taking it to a professional coin dealer or grading service. They can provide a detailed assessment of the one dollar Zachary Taylor coin value and give you an idea of its market place. You can also read different numismatic guides, e.g., the Cherrypickers' Guide book.

Just a Beginning

It was just one coin from our or yours, as you prefer, collection. There are even more stories, specifications and interesting facts ahead. And if you want to have a handy tool for automatically identifying coins just by a photo, try Coin ID Scanner.

With this coin lookup by picture​, you will have access to a database of more than 150,000 coins, you will be able to manage your coins yourself, and you will also be able to ask for help from an AI assistant that will answer all your questions at any time. What are you waiting for? Try it now and enjoy the world of numismatics.

Sources:

1. https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2009-p-1-zachary-taylor-position/409723

2. https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/presidential-dollar-coin/zachary-taylor