James Madison 1809 to 1817 Gold Coin Value: How Much is it Worth?

Are you interested in collecting the James Madison 1809 to 1817 gold coin?

Are you curious whether this Presidential Dollar is worth collecting?

We wrote this guide just for you, explaining everything you need to know about the 2007 James Madison gold coin value.

We will review the coin’s unique history, familiarize ourselves with the features, and figure out how to grade Presidential Dollar coins.

In the end, you will know the real value of a James Madison 1809 to 1817 gold coin and whether it is worth collecting.

So, let’s dive in!

 

James Madison 1809 to 1817 Gold Coin Value Chart
Mint Mark	MS60	MS63	MS65	Uncirculated (MS67/PF70)
2007-P James Madison Gold Coin Value	$1	$6	$10	$30
2007-D James Madison Gold Coin Value	$3	$5	$7	$15
2007-S Proof James Madison Gold Coin Value	–	$3	$4	$25

 

History of the James Madison 1809 to 1817 Gold Coin

The James Madison gold coin is part of the Presidential $1 gold coin series, which ran from 2007 to 2016. Each release honored a U.S. President in the order they served.

Presidential one-dollar gold coins share the same reverse design, but each obverse carries a unique portrait of the featured president.

James Madison was born in 1751 in Orange County, Virginia. He studied law, history, and government at the College of New Jersey—now Princeton.

Madison helped draft the 1776 Virginia Constitution and went on to serve in both the Virginia Assembly and the Continental Congress. His biggest mark came during the ratification of the Constitution, where he co-wrote the Federalist essays with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton. That work earned him the title “Father of the Constitution.”

He also helped create the Bill of Rights. Madison strongly opposed Hamilton’s financial plans, arguing they’d funnel wealth to the few. That opposition gave rise to the Jeffersonian Republican Party.

Madison won the presidency in 1808. During his time in office, the Act of December 1812 directed the U.S. Mint to stay in Philadelphia for another five years through 1813. The Act of April 1816 authorized certain foreign silver and gold coins as legal tender for all debts in the country.

Features of the James Madison 1809 to 1817 Gold Coin

Knowing what to look for on a coin is the first step to figuring out what it’s worth. Here’s a breakdown of the James Madison $1 gold coin’s design elements.

The Obverse of the James Madison 1809 to 1817 Gold Coin

The obverse of the James Madison presidential $1 gold coin shows a large forward-facing portrait of the fourth president. He looks like he’s gazing straight ahead into the future.

JAMES MADISON arches across the top rim. Along the bottom you’ll see FOURTH PRESIDENT and his years of service, 1809 to 1817.

The Reverse of the James Madison 1809 to 1817 Gold Coin

Flip it over and you’ll see the Statue of Liberty—the famous sculpture France gave the United States in 1886.

Two concentric rings frame the design. The inner ring encircles the statue and the denomination, inscribed as $1. The outer ring carries UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the full circumference.

This coin weighs 8.10 grams and measures 26.50 millimetres in diameter. Its metal composition comprises 88.5% Copper, 6% Zinc, 3.5% Manganese and 2% Nickel.

Other Features of the James Madison 1809 to 1817 Gold Coin

One thing that makes Presidential dollars stand out is the edge lettering. Look along the edge and you’ll find 2007, plus the mottos IN GOD WE TRUST and E PLURIBUS ENUM.

Wondering where the mint mark for the James Madison gold coin is? It’s on the edge too. You’ll see either a P for Philadelphia or a D for Denver.

James Madison 1809 to 1817 Gold Coin Value Guides

So how much is a James Madison 1809 to 1817 gold coin actually worth?

It comes down to condition, mint mark, rarity, and demand. Circulated examples are only worth face value. The premium kicks in with uncirculated pieces.

Three varieties were issued in 2007:

• 2007 P James Madison Gold Coin
• 2007 D James Madison Gold Coin
• 2007 S Proof James Madison Gold Coin

Here’s what each one is worth.

2007 P James Madison Gold Coin

Here’s something most people miss: even though 84,560,000 were struck, the Philadelphia Madison dollar actually had the lowest mintage of any Presidential dollar that inaugural year. The Mint cut circulating production by 20% in 2007.

In circulated condition, your 2007 P James Madison gold coin is worth only its face value of $1.

You start seeing a bump in uncirculated grades. An MS62 runs about $5, and a gem piece with full lustre can reach $10—though those are tough to find. According to the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), the most expensive 2007 P James Madison gold coin ever sold was graded MS68 and was auctioned by Heritage Auctions in 2016 for an impressive $61.

2007 D James Madison Gold Coin

Can a coin with nearly 88 million siblings be worth anything? Sometimes. Denver struck an estimated 87,780,000 of these, so circulated pieces are pure face value—$1 and nothing more.

The money is in the high-grade raw or slabbed examples. An MS65 can sell for $7, while an MS67 is worth around $15.

A rare specimen graded MS67 was sold for an eye-watering $130 in 2016 on eBay, reports the PCGS. That’s the kind of coin you hope to cherrypick from a bag of Presidential dollars.

2007 S Proof James Madison Gold Coin

If you want the sharpest-looking Madison dollar, this is it. The San Francisco Mint produced about 3,965,989 proof gold coins with the S mint mark.

Proofs are struck from polished dies and planchets, giving them mirror-like fields, razor-sharp devices, and flawless surfaces. They look stunning in hand.

According to PCGS records, the most expensive James Madison proof gold coin is a Deep Cameo (DCAM) graded PR70. It was sold for an impressive $127 at a 2008 Heritage Auctions sale.

The Mint also released special mint sets with a satin, matte finish. These aren’t proof quality, but they’re a clear step above regular circulation strikes. They carry a P or D mint mark and trade between $20 and $75 depending on grade. A specimen graded SP69 was sold for $209 at a 2008 Heritage Auction sale, making it among the most expensive special strike 2007 James Madison gold coins.

James Madison 1809 to 1817 Gold Coin Grading

Grading these coins is pretty straightforward. In circulated grades, they’re worth face value. Period.

The premium starts at MS67. Anything graded MS68 or higher is extremely scarce and will sell above face. I think the real opportunity with these coins is in the errors—doubled-edge lettering, missing edge lettering, inverted inscriptions. Those varieties can turn a dollar coin into a serious find.

Pay close attention to bag marks and lustre when you’re evaluating raw examples. A coin that looks clean to the naked eye might still show contact marks under magnification.

Check out this video for additional tips for grading your James Madison gold coin.

James Madison 1809 to 1817 Gold Coin Errors

Mistakes happen at the Mint, and sometimes those mistakes put money in your pocket. Some collectors build entire sets around error coins, and Presidential dollars have produced some good ones.

Here are the most valuable 2007 James Madison gold coin errors:

2007 James Madison Gold Coin Missing Edge Lettering Error

Pick up any Presidential dollar and run your finger along the edge. Feel the lettering? Now imagine a completely smooth edge. That’s this error.

Presidential $1 gold coins undergo a two-step minting process. First, blank planchets get struck with the obverse and reverse designs. Then they move to a separate machine that applies the edge inscriptions. If that second step gets skipped, you end up with a plain-edge coin.

These are genuinely rare. The most expensive 2007 James Madison gold coin with a missing edge lettering error was auctioned for $978 in a 2010 Heritage Auctions session.

2007-D James Madison Gold Coin Overlapping Doubled Edge Lettering Error

This one happens when the edge lettering machine strikes a coin more than once at slightly different angles. The letters overlap, creating a ghosted or blurry look along the rim.

It’s a minor error, but it has a following. On average, a 2007-D James Madison gold coin with an overlapping error can fetch between $20 and $50 depending on the extent of doubling and the coin’s condition. Worth checking every D-mint Madison you come across.

2007-S Proof James Madison Gold Coin Inverted Edge Lettering Error

On a correctly struck proof, the edge lettering reads heads-side up. On this error, the lettering is flipped to face the tails side. It’s rare and collectors love it.

Proof presidential dollars with inverted edge lettering can sell for as much as $200 or more. If you spot one, don’t let it go.

FAQS

When did the James Madison dollar coin come out?

It came out in 2007, the first year of the Presidential Gold Coin Series.

Is the 2007 James Madison dollar worth collecting?

If you’re looking for a quick profit, probably not. Circulated pieces are worth face value. Your best bet is to hunt for uncirculated or proof examples, which carry a premium. I do think these coins could appreciate over time—older coins almost always gain value as they age.

How much is the 2007 James Madison Presidential Gold Coin worth today?

Most circulated examples are worth $1. That’s the reality for the vast majority of these coins you’ll encounter. Uncirculated pieces can bring a bit more—up to around $20 depending on the grade.