Washington $1 Coin

[Valerie S. Johnson]

By Valerie S. Johnson

Just in time for President’s Day, George Washington gets promoted. His portrait currently graces the quarter, the dollar bill, and starting today, the new one dollar coin. It’s a golden-colored coin with the Statue of Liberty on the tails side and is marked "$1" instead of "One Dollar."

The Federal Reserve has ordered 300 million $1 coins. If you were in Grand Central Station in New York City this morning, they weren’t giving away free samples, but you could trade in up to $250 of your paper money for the new currency.

Later this year, $1 coins with portraits of three other Presidents will enter circulation. Look out for John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison to arrive each quarter (one new $1 coin every three months, that is).