2008 Presidential Dollar Coin Value: Errors List, “P”, “D” & “S” Mint Mark Worth

2008-P Monroe Pos. A value ranges from $1.00 face value to $20,400. That record came from a Grade 65 example sold at Heritage Auctions in August 2024. Upload a photo of yours below and we’ll give you a quick value range based on what it looks like. You can also scroll down to see recent eBay sales and get a feel for the current market.

 

2008 Presidential Dollar Value By Variety

The chart below breaks down 2008 Presidential Dollar prices by mint mark (P, D, S), edge lettering position (A or B), and grade—from circulated (Good, Fine) through uncirculated (AU, MS) and proof (DCAM). If you already know your coin’s grade, jump to the Value Guides section for exact pricing.

Also Read: Presidential Dollars Value (2007 to Present)

Top 10 Most Valuable 2008 Presidential Dollar Worth Money

The top spot belongs to a 2008-P James Monroe Position A graded MS65, which hammered at $20,400 at Heritage Auctions in August 2024. That’s a face-value dollar coin. The certified population at that grade is tiny, and registry set collectors drove the bidding through the roof.

Monroe dollars grabbed four of the top ten slots. Meanwhile, error coins punched well above their weight—a John Quincy Adams Missing Edge Lettering error hit $1,104 in MS66, and a Van Buren Missing Edge example reached $729 in MS67. First Day of Issue labels show up repeatedly in the rankings too, proving that documented provenance adds real money at auction.

History of the 2008 Presidential Dollar

The 2008 Presidential Dollars honored four presidents in order: James Monroe (released February 14, 2008), John Quincy Adams (May 15, 2008), Andrew Jackson (August 14, 2008), and Martin Van Buren (November 13, 2008). All four were authorized under Public Law 109-145, the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005.

These were the first circulating U.S. coins with edge lettering since gold coinage ended in 1933. Schuler machines applied the year, mintmark, “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” to each coin’s edge after the faces were struck—a separate production step that opened the door to its own unique errors.

Here’s the fun detail: 2008 was the last year “IN GOD WE TRUST” appeared on the edge. Back in early 2007, roughly 250,000 George Washington dollars shipped without any edge inscriptions at all. The press called them “Godless Dollars,” and the public outrage was immediate. Congress passed H.R. 2764 in December 2007, ordering the motto moved to the obverse starting in 2009—but the 2008 designs were already locked in.

The program never caught on with the public the way the Mint hoped. By 2011, Federal Reserve vaults held over 1.4 billion surplus dollar coins. That’s more than a four-year supply at the distribution rate back then. The Schuler process also created Position A and Position B varieties for every issue—both officially recognized by PCGS starting in 2007 as legitimate collectible variations.

Also Read: Top 40+ Most Valuable Presidential Dollar Coins Worth Money

Is Your 2008 Presidential Dollar Rare?

Not all 2008 Presidential Dollars are created equal—some rare varieties command significant premiums. Use our CoinValueChecker App to check your coin’s edge lettering, position type, and discover if you own one of the most valuable rare specimens.

Key Features of the 2008 Presidential Dollar

You need to check three surfaces on any 2008 Presidential Dollar: obverse, reverse, and edge. The obverse shows the president’s portrait with designer initials. The reverse has the same Statue of Liberty design on all four coins.

But flip it to the edge. That’s where the money is. The inscription orientation (Position A or B), mintmark placement, and lettering quality separate ordinary coins from valuable varieties.

The Obverse of the 2008 Presidential Dollar

Three Mint artists—Joseph Menna, Don Everhart, and Joel Iskowitz—created the four obverse portraits for America’s fifth through eighth presidents.

• James Monroe — Joseph Menna’s design depicts the “Era of Good Feelings” president (1817–1825) in formal attire, with “JAMES MONROE” above and “5TH PRESIDENT 1817-1825” below. Monroe coins were officially released on February 14, 2008, and coins submitted to PCGS on or before that date qualify for the First Day of Issue (FDI) designation.
• John Quincy Adams — Don Everhart’s first Presidential Dollar obverse portrays the diplomat-turned-president (1825–1829), the only president whose father also served as president until George W. Bush followed his own father decades later. Adams dollars were officially released on May 15, 2008.
• Andrew Jackson — Joel Iskowitz’s powerful portrait captures “Old Hickory” (1829–1837) with a notably front-facing perspective rather than a traditional profile view. A release ceremony was held at Jackson’s home, The Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 14, 2008; attendees under 18 received a free uncirculated coin.
• Martin Van Buren — Also by Iskowitz and sculpted by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill, this design was based on George Peter Alexander Healy’s 1858 official presidential portrait. The artist initials “JI” and “PH” appear on Van Buren’s lapels. Van Buren was the first president born as a U.S. citizen and the first whose native language was not English—he grew up speaking Dutch.

The Reverse of the 2008 Presidential Dollar

Don Everhart designed the reverse with a cool ant’s-eye view of the Statue of Liberty, offset to the left. Liberty sits in the bottom-right quadrant, her extended elbow marking the center of the composition.

Look for “$1” beneath Liberty’s torch arm and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” around the outer edge. Everhart’s “DE” monogram is tucked into the folds of Liberty’s gown near the tablet. This same reverse appears on every Presidential Dollar in the series.

Other Features of the 2008 Presidential Dollar

These coins are manganese brass (88.5% copper, 6% zinc, 3.5% manganese, 2% nickel) over a pure copper core. They measure 26.5mm across and weigh 8.1 grams—same specs as Sacagawea Dollars. The golden color comes entirely from the alloy. No actual gold.

The edge carries incused lettering: “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” the mintmark (P, D, or S), “2008,” and 13 five-pointed stars for the original colonies. San Francisco Proof Sets had a mintage of 836,730 sets for 2008.

Here’s how Position A and B work. The Schuler machines apply edge inscriptions after striking, and each coin enters at a random orientation. Position A means the edge lettering reads upside-down when the portrait faces up. Position B reads normally with the portrait up. Both PCGS and NGC recognize these as legitimate varieties at no extra grading fee.

Also Read: Top 80+ Most Valuable Sacagawea Dollar Worth Money (2000-P to Present)

The Easy Way to Know Your 2008 Presidential Dollar Value

Three things determine your coin’s value: the mintmark on the edge (P, D, or S), the edge lettering position (A or B), and the grade.

Circulated examples? Face value. Uncirculated pieces start around $4–$6 in standard grades. But a Missing Edge Lettering error or a top-pop slabbed coin can bring hundreds or thousands.

Download our Coin Identifier and Value App to instantly scan your coin’s edge lettering, detect valuable errors, and receive accurate market valuations based on real-time auction data—transforming complex numismatic analysis into a simple smartphone tap.

2008 Presidential Dollar Value Guides

Prices vary a lot depending on the president, position, and variety. Here’s a quick rundown before we get into each coin:

• 2008 James Monroe Presidential Dollar: Highest premium potential in MS65+ grades, particularly Position A varieties. The series record holder at $20,400.
• 2008 John Quincy Adams Presidential Dollar: Notable for the highest frequency of Missing Edge Lettering errors, including a rare Satin Finish variant. An MS69 example sold for $202 on eBay in January 2021.
• 2008 Andrew Jackson Presidential Dollar: Strong demand for scarce high-grade Position A specimens. The Jackson release ceremony at The Hermitage added collector interest at launch.
• 2008 Martin Van Buren Presidential Dollar: The final 2008 release, sought after by collectors completing the last complete edge-lettered “IN GOD WE TRUST” set. PCGS MS67 population stands at 97 coins as of mid-2025, giving high-grade examples a real ceiling of potential value.

A coin worth $1 in circulated condition can jump to hundreds or thousands in MS67 with the right designation. Grade, edge lettering variety, errors, Satin Finish status, and certified population all play into the final number. I think professional grading is where most people leave money on the table with this series.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Morgan Silver Dollar Coins Worth Money List

2008 James Monroe Presidential Dollar Value

A $20,400 sale for a dollar coin. That’s what a 2008-P James Monroe Position A in MS65 brought at Heritage Auctions in August 2024—the all-time record for the entire 2008 series. Monroe is the coin to have from this year.

Released on February 14, 2008, this was the first coin produced after the Mint tightened up the Schuler edge lettering process into a closed system. That dramatically cut missing edge errors compared to 2007. Still, some slipped through. Missing edge lettering and weak edge lettering varieties both exist for Monroe and carry strong premiums.

Philadelphia struck approximately 64,260,000 circulation coins. Denver produced around 60,230,000. San Francisco made proof-only specimens with mirror fields and frosted devices—the DCAM (Deep Cameo) designation. Circulated examples are worth face value, but MS67 and higher pieces in either Position A or B can reach four figures.

The following auction records document historical price performance across various grades and market conditions.

Market activity demonstrates the inaugural 2008 Presidential Dollar release continues to attract sustained interest.

Market activity score: 37/100 as of Oct 2026 — down 1 point from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 43 (Aug 2026).

2008 John Quincy Adams Presidential Dollar Value

If you’re cherrypicking 2008 Presidential Dollars for errors, start with Adams. This issue has the highest frequency of Missing Edge Lettering errors in the entire 2008 series—and they show up in both regular strikes and Satin Finish specimens from the annual Uncirculated Mint Sets.

Released May 15, 2008, the Adams dollar honors America’s sixth president. He was the only president whose father also held the office until George W. Bush decades later. Don Everhart designed the obverse portrait.

Those Satin Finish errors are a completely different kind of rare. Produced only for 2007–2010 Mint Sets, they have a distinctive matte surface from specially prepared dies and burnished planchets. PCGS and NGC grade them “SP” (Specimen) rather than “MS.” PCGS catalogs the Missing Edge Lettering Satin Finish Adams under its own number (#410736).

San Francisco struck 3,083,940 proof versions. The proof auction record sits at $161 for a PR70 at Heritage Auctions on March 15, 2009. For circulation strikes, an MS69 sold for $202 on eBay in January 2021.

Detailed auction data below reflects price trends across different quality levels and certification services.

Market activity indicates growing awareness of this issue’s unique characteristics.

Market activity score: 43/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 8 points from Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

2008 Andrew Jackson Presidential Dollar Value

Most Presidential Dollar portraits show a profile view. Not Jackson. Joel Iskowitz went with a bold front-facing perspective that gives this coin a completely different feel in hand. It’s the third of four 2008 releases, officially launched on August 14, 2008.

The Mint held a public ceremony that day at The Hermitage—Jackson’s historic home in Nashville, Tennessee. Kids under 18 walked away with a free uncirculated coin. Rolls of 25 were available at the venue for $35.95 each.

Philadelphia struck approximately 61,180,000 circulation pieces, with Denver producing a comparable quantity. San Francisco made proof-only specimens. Error varieties exist too, including Missing Edge Lettering examples in both regular strike and Satin Finish format—one Satin Finish piece graded SP68 by PCGS was documented by GreatCollections.

PCGS population reports show very few coins certified at MS67 for certain varieties. That’s real scarcity at the top of the grading scale. Recent sales show MS69 examples reaching $190.

The auction records below showcase price realization patterns across multiple grades.

Market activity reveals sustained collector interest driven by the distinctive historical significance of this release.

Market activity score: 46/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 6 points from Jul 2026. 12-month peak: 47 (Aug 2026).

2008 Martin Van Buren Presidential Dollar Value

Did you know Van Buren grew up speaking Dutch, not English? He was the first president born as a U.S. citizen, the first with an indoor toilet, and at 5’6″ he was considerably shorter than Jackson, whose coin came right before his. Some historians credit him as a key architect of the modern two-party system. His nickname was the “Little Magician.”

Joel Iskowitz designed the portrait based on George Peter Alexander Healy’s 1858 official presidential painting. Phebe Hemphill sculpted it at the Mint. Look for the “JI” and “PH” initials on Van Buren’s lapels.

This coin matters to collectors for a specific reason: it completes the last full edge-lettered “IN GOD WE TRUST” set in U.S. history. You can’t finish a 2008 edge-inscribed set without it, and that keeps demand steady.

PCGS population data shows 97 coins certified at MS67 for the Philadelphia strike as of mid-2025. NGC reports only 8 at the same grade for Denver during the same period—a huge gap. A 2008-P MS67 sold for $19 on eBay in July 2018, while MS66 examples typically trade around $5–$12.

The following auction data documents transaction history across various conditions and certification standards.

Market activity demonstrates collectors recognize this final 2008 issue’s importance within the Presidential Dollar series.

Market activity score: 43/100 as of Oct 2026 — up 3 points from Jul 2026. Currently at its 12-month peak.

Also Read: 17 Rare Dollar Coin Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

Rare 2008 Presidential Dollar Error List

2008 was a transition year for edge lettering errors. When the Mint moved the Schuler equipment into a closed production system starting with Monroe, error rates dropped sharply from 2007. By 2009, the missing edge problem was mostly solved.

That makes 2008 errors significantly rarer than their 2007 counterparts—and prices reflect it. Three distinct error types came out of the Schuler process.

1. 2008 Weak Edge Lettering Errors

This is the most subtle edge error. You’ll see incomplete letter strikes where parts of individual characters look faint or partially formed. It happens when coins pass through the Schuler machine under insufficient pressure—worn edge dies, bad equipment adjustment, or slightly undersized planchets after upsetting.

At first glance, these can look like they have no edge inscriptions at all. Grab a loupe. You’ll usually find faint, incomplete lettering. Grading services require that parts of letters be visibly missing—not just shallow—to distinguish genuine errors from ordinary weak strikes.

Certified examples typically bring $50–$200 depending on the president and grade.

2. 2008 Partial Edge Lettering Errors

Ever seen a coin with half its edge inscription just missing? That’s a partial edge lettering error. The planchet jammed or misaligned during high-speed feeding through the Schuler equipment, so the segmented collar only imprinted part of the inscription. Badly worn edge dies can produce a similar result.

The difference from weak edge lettering is clear: entire letters are absent, not faint. You’ll see normal lettering interrupted by blank spaces. Much more dramatic and easier to confirm.

Certified MS66 examples have brought around $250 or more at auction.

3. 2008 Missing Edge Lettering Errors

These are the “Godless Dollars” that made the news. The coin completely skipped the Schuler edge lettering step, leaving a smooth edge with no date, no mintmark, no “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” no “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Nothing.

They exist for all four 2008 presidents in both regular strikes and Satin Finish (SP) format. A 2008 Martin Van Buren Missing Edge Lettering example graded NGC MS-68 was listed at GreatCollections with a $500 opening bid as recently as 2025. For Adams, a Missing Edge Lettering Satin Finish error has its own PCGS catalog number (#410736). Certified MS67 examples regularly hit $416 and above.

One warning: always get professional authentication from PCGS, NGC, or ANACS before buying these. Worn lettering or deliberately filed edges can mimic this error. I’ve seen fakes at coin shows that looked convincing until you checked under magnification.

Where to Sell Your 2008 Presidential Dollar?

Professional authentication and grading can significantly increase your selling price for rare varieties and error coins. Choose reputable dealers, established auction houses, or trusted online platforms to ensure secure transactions and competitive prices for your 2008 Presidential Dollar collection.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

FAQ about the 2008 Presidential Dollar Value

1. What does Position A and Position B mean on a 2008 Presidential Dollar?

Position A means the edge lettering reads upside-down when the president’s portrait faces up. Position B reads normally with the portrait facing up.

Edge lettering gets applied in a separate step after striking. Each coin enters the Schuler machine at a random orientation, so it’s basically a 50/50 split. Both positions are legitimate mint-made varieties recognized by PCGS and NGC at no extra grading fee.

2. What is a 2008 Presidential Dollar worth in circulated condition?

A dollar. Philadelphia alone struck over 64 million Monroe dollars, so circulated examples are everywhere. Even AU-58 pieces usually trade at or near face value. You won’t see meaningful premiums until MS63 and above.

3. What is the most valuable 2008 Presidential Dollar?

The 2008-P James Monroe Position A in MS65, which sold for $20,400 at Heritage Auctions in August 2024. A tiny certified population at that grade plus fierce collector demand created that price. A circulated Monroe is still worth $1.00—condition and certification make all the difference.

4. Where are the date and mintmark located on a 2008 Presidential Dollar?

On the edge, not the faces. The edge carries “2008,” the mintmark (P, D, or S), “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” in incused lettering. Starting in 2009, Congress moved “IN GOD WE TRUST” to the obverse, making 2008 the final year with the full original edge inscription format.

5. What is a Satin Finish Presidential Dollar and is it worth more?

Satin Finish coins came exclusively in the annual U.S. Mint Uncirculated Coin Sets from 2007 through 2010. They were struck with specially prepared dies and burnished planchets, giving them a distinctive matte surface. Grading services designate them “SP” (Specimen) instead of “MS.”

They’re generally worth a bit more than standard business strikes in equivalent grades because of lower populations. An SP68 or SP69 can bring $7–$25 depending on the president.

6. What is a DCAM designation and why does it matter for 2008 S proof dollars?

DCAM stands for Deep Cameo. It describes that sharp contrast between heavily frosted design elements and mirror-like background fields on proof coins. It’s the top tier of proof quality.

Here’s something interesting: a 2008-S Van Buren PCGS PR70DCAM sold on eBay for $29 in April 2025, while an NGC PF70UCAM of the same coin went for $2.25 in the same period. Same grade, wildly different prices—certification service and label matter.

7. Are 2008 John Quincy Adams dollars more likely to have errors?

Yes. Adams has the highest frequency of Missing Edge Lettering errors among all four 2008 issues. They show up in both regular circulation strikes and Satin Finish versions. PCGS maintains separate catalog entries for the Missing Edge Lettering Adams and its Satin Finish counterpart (#410736). A certified missing-edge Adams in MS66 has sold for $1,104.

8. How does the First Day of Issue designation affect a coin’s value?

First Day of Issue (FDI) labels go on coins submitted for grading on or before the official release date. For 2008, that means Monroe by February 14, Adams by May 15, Jackson by August 14, and Van Buren by November 13.

FDI coins typically bring a modest premium over standard slabbed examples at the same grade. Multiple FDI specimens appear in the top-10 most valuable 2008 Presidential Dollar sales, so the market clearly values that release-date provenance.

9. Should I get my 2008 Presidential Dollar professionally graded?

It depends. Grading makes sense if your coin looks uncirculated with no visible wear, has an edge lettering error, carries a First Day of Issue label, or is a San Francisco proof. Those are the scenarios where slabbed coins consistently sell for multiples of face value.

For ordinary circulated pieces or standard uncirculated examples in MS63–MS65, grading fees will likely eat up any added value.

10. Did the U.S. Mint produce any special collector versions of the 2008 Presidential Dollar beyond proofs?

Yes. Beyond standard P and D circulation strikes and S-mint proofs, the Mint produced Satin Finish versions of all four 2008 Presidential Dollars for the 2008 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set. That set—announced July 23, 2008, and available starting July 30, 2008—contained 28 coins total from both Philadelphia and Denver.

The 2008 Presidential Dollar Proof Set had an official mintage of 836,730 sets and included all four designs in DCAM proof quality with the original U.S. Mint box and Certificate of Authenticity.