Ronald Reagan Coin Value: Dollar, Gold, Silver & Double Eagle Guide

Ronald Reagan was the penultimate president to appear on the Presidential Dollar Coin program. Let us explore the varieties and values of his coin.

Overview of Ronald Reagan Coins and Commemoratives

The U.S. Mint honored Ronald W. Reagan with an official Presidential $1 coin in 2016. The bit was quite popular when it was issued, just as the president the dollar represented.

• The obverse design featured a bust of Ronald Reagan. This side also has a few inscriptions, like “RONALD REAGAN”, “40th PRESIDENT”, and 1981–1989 (years in office). The reverse was designed by Richard Masters and sculpted by Joseph Menna.

• The reverse featured a Statue of Liberty, with inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “$1”. Don Everhart designed and sculpted the reverse (he also worked on many other Presidential coins, e.g., James Monroe dollar).

"Reagan also had a keen interest in politics and in 1966, he successfully ran for governor of California, serving two terms. He unsuccessfully challenged President Ford for the Republican nomination in 1976 and defeated Jimmy Carter four years later, becoming the nation’s 40th president on January 20, 1981."
— United States Mint
Official Website 

Value of the Ronald Reagan Presidential $1 Coin

What makes the Ronald Reagan dollar coin value higher? A few factors:

• Issue and mintage: The 2016 Reagan Presidential $1 was minted in Philadelphia (7,140,000). Also, in Denver (5,880,000). Finally, it had proofs from San Francisco (1,196,673). The San Francisco variety with a lower mintage is rarer and more valuable.

• Condition (grading): Bits with better condition are worth more, logically.

• Errors: Edge-lettering errors (missing edge inscriptions, double inscriptions, etc.) are rare, but still plausible, and most are worth at least $50.

Ronald Reagan Double Eagle commemorative coin value is usually around a dollar:

The piece we’ve observed from the Presidential series is the most popular dollar with Ronald. Yet, it is not the only coin that was commemorated to him, and not the most valuable.

Gold and Silver Ronald Reagan Collectible Coins

Ronald Reagan bits came in three basic compositions:

• Gold (24k)

• Silver (.999)

• Brass clad (88.5% copper, 6% zinc, etc.l)

The Presidential coin was brass, but some people also refer to it as a “Ronald Reagan gold coin”, because of the golden hue the dollar had (but, again, it wasn't actual gold). Other bits from the Presidential series (e.g., George Bush dollar) were also brass.

As for the real gold and silver bits, Ronald had medals that resembled coins from 1984, often referred to as “Double Eagles.”

1984 Ronald Reagan Double Eagle Coin Varieties

Unlike the Ronald Reagan commemorative coin from the Presidential series, the Double Eagles were less consistent. They were not made by the U.S. mint (National Historic Mint made them), and most are privately owned nowadays. Such coins/medals were issued in 1986 to celebrate Reagan’s election in 1984.

The Double Eagles had two varieties:

• Ronald Reagan silver coin. The base version with a higher mintage. Distinguished by silvery colour. 1984 Ronald Reagan double eagle silver coin value highly depends on its owner's interest rate and silver spot prices, but is usually $5+.

• Gold coin. A very limited version. Technically, this bit is also silver, but has a 24k gold layer. Due to a small (yet unknown) mintage and 24k gold layer, most gold bits are $900+.

Golden or not, all Double Eagles commemorated to Reagan had a similar design:

• The obverse with a portrait of Ronald Reagan, front angle. Like often depicted in the photos, the President is smiling. You will see inscriptions “RONALD REAGAN”, “40th PRESIDENT”, and 1981–1989

• The reverse shows two eagles, mirrored. One is above, and the second is below. Both are hanging on the branch. You will see the inscriptions “DOUBLE EAGLE” and “PRESIDENTIAL COMMEMORATIVE”.

Whatever variety you have in your collection, you can be sure that you own a great coin. A dollar that remembers someone who once led a great nation and brought many changes.