Owner Comments:
The James Garfield Presidential Dollar is scheduled to be released into circulation on November 17, 2011. This will mark the 20th release of the series honoring the former Presidents, and wrap up the fifth year of the series.
Prior to being elected president, James A. Garfield was elected to the Ohio state senate and elected to the U.S. Congress, where he would serve for 18 years. He would only serve as the President of the United States for a brief 200 days, the second shortest tenure after William Henry Harrison. Just four months into his term, he was shot while entering a railroad station in Washington, D.C. One of the bullets would remain lodged near his spine and cause him to become increasingly ill until he eventually died 80 days later.
The obverse of the James Garfield Dollar features the former President’s portrait with inscriptions indicating his name, the motto “In God We Trust”, the order of the Presidency, and the year during which he served. The reverse carries a design common to all issues of the series depicting the statue of Liberty with inscriptions “United States of America” and “$1?. The edge of the coin includes the date, mint mark, and motto “E Pluribus Unum”.
The designer and sculptor of the obverse was Phebe Hemphill, while the reverse was designed and sculpted by Don Everhart.
Even though the coins have not yet been released into circulation, the James Garfield Presidential Dollars have already made an appearance within several numismatic products offered by the United States Mint. These include the three annual coin sets and the 2011 Presidential Dollar Proof Set and Uncirculated Set.
Details of an official launch ceremony are not yet known. Mintage levels will also remain unknown until closer towards the end of the year.