William Henry Harrison Presidential $1 Coins were officially launched in a ceremonial release on Presidents Day (Monday) by the United States Mint. The event was held at Harrison’s old Virginia home at the Berkeley Plantation. In keeping with tradition, thousands of newly struck coins were given to children while adults exchanged for $1 rolls.
The coin is the first Presidential Dollar of 2009, the 9th issued to honor US Presidents, and the first to include "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the obverse, or heads side. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 mandated the motto move from the edge, as seen in 2007 and 2008 $1 coins, to its now more prominent location.
The obverse was designed and sculpted by Joseph Menna and features an image of William Henry Harrison with the inscriptions “WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON “, “IN GOD WE TRUST”, “9th PRESIDENT ” and “1841.”
The Harrison $1 announcement by the Mint provided the following biography of the former President:
William Henry Harrison was born into a politically prominent family. His father, a three-term governor of Virginia, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Following three years of college, Harrison’s father sent him to study medicine with a leading physician.
Unenthusiastic about medicine, he instead pursued a military career after his father’s death. Harrison distinguished himself in the Battle of Tippecanoe against American Indians led by Shawnee chief Tecumseh-earning the nickname "Old Tippecanoe"-and in the War of 1812.
During his Army career, Harrison also served as secretary of the Northwest Territory and governor of the Indiana Territory. He also served in the U.S. Senate, in the U.S. House of Representatives, in the Ohio State Senate, and as U.S. minister to Columbia.
In 1840, the Whig Party chose Harrison to run against incumbent President Martin Van Buren. "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" (future President John Tyler was his vice presidential candidate) was the first slogan used in a presidential campaign.
Harrison defeated Van Buren in a landslide, and at 68 years old, became the oldest president to serve in the office up to that point.
Former President Harrison served the shortest term in office of any president to date. He died of pneumonia about one month after giving the longest inaugural speech in history. He was the first president to die in office.
The US Mint said the dollar coins will begin circulating Thursday and with that, bags and rolls of the circulating coins — minted from either Philadelphia or Denver — will be offered at noon ET through http://usmint.gov/.
2009 Presidential Dollar Proof Sets went on sale last Tuesday for the price of $14.95.