In May 2025, a 2007 Presidential Dollar featuring George Washington with missing edge lettering fetched an astonishing $8,000 at a specialized auction.
This rare mint error—omitting essential inscriptions like date, mint mark, and mottos—has spurred intense interest among collectors and numismatists.
What Is the 2007 Missing Edge Lettering Error?
- Origin & Minting Process
- U.S. Presidential Dollars, first issued on February 15, 2007, feature edge lettering: “In God We Trust,” E Pluribus Unum, mint mark, and date
- These inscriptions are applied in a separate process; occasionally, coins exit the press stage but skip the edge-lettering step, creating the missing edge lettering error
- Numismatic Significance
- Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) estimate that at least 50,000 such Washington dollars were released into circulation
- This makes the 2007 Washington Dollar the most common of the missing-edge series, though still highly collectible
Record-Setting $8,000 Sale
- In May 2025, a 2007-P George Washington Dollar, graded MS‑67, and slabbed to certify its missing edge lettering, sold for $8,000 at Heritage Auctions.
- This set a new record, far surpassing earlier high-water marks:
- $1,225 in 2020 for an MS‑65 error coin
- Previous eBay sale in early 2007 fetched over $600, with later entering circulation valued near $50
Comparative Values of Similar Error Coins
| Year | President | Mint Mark | Grade | Error Type | Auction Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | George Washington | P | MS‑67 | Missing Edge Lettering | $8,000 (May 2025) |
| 2007 | George Washington | P | MS‑65 | Missing Edge Lettering | $1,225 (2020) |
| 2007 | James Madison | P | MS‑67 | Missing Edge Lettering | $431 dealer price |
| 2007 | George Washington | P | MS‑65 | Inverted Double Lettering | $1,205 (2023) |
Why Such High Value?
- Scarcity: High-grade specimens like MS‑67 are extremely rare.
- Grading Premium: Collectors pay a significant premium for coins with professional certification.
- Provenance & Auction Setting: Credible auction houses like Heritage contribute to transparency and bidding competition.
- Historical Context: The 2007 Washington issue marks the beginning of the Presidential Dollar program and is the most widely circulated missing-edge error
Broader Error Coin Context
- Series Range: Missing edge lettering errors appear in all first 15 Presidential Dollars (Washington through Buchanan)
- Other Error Types: Include inverted double lettering, die clash, and die chip errors, which also attract collector interest
- Notoriety: The Philadelphia Mint officer William Gray reportedly pilfered thousands of such missing‑edge coins, selling them illicitly
This $8,000 sale underscores the enduring allure of the 2007 missing-edge Walter Washington Dollar—a confluence of historical error, scarcity, and minting legacy, cementing its status as a prized numismatic treasure.
FAQs
What makes the 2007 missing edge lettering dollar so valuable?
It’s a high-grade, certified error with omitted edge inscriptions, a rarity in the Presidential Dollar series.
How many of these error coins exist?
Experts believe at least 50,000 Washington missing-edge dollars entered circulation, but only a small fraction are high-grade
Are there similar errors for other presidents?
Yes—Presidential Dollars for John Adams through Buchanan exhibit similar edge-lettering omissions, though they are generally scarcer