If you’ve stumbled upon what appears to be an “1841 William Henry Harrison Dollar,” you’re likely holding one of two completely different coins—and understanding which one could mean the difference between a dollar and thousands of dollars. The confusion stems from a common misconception: there’s no such thing as an 1841 Presidential Dollar featuring Harrison. What exists instead are either the rare 1841 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar or the modern 2009 William Henry Harrison Presidential Dollar. Let’s clear up this confusion and explore what each coin is actually worth.

Understanding the Two Different Coins

The date confusion happens because William Henry Harrison was indeed the 9th President of the United States and took office in 1841. However, the Presidential Dollar Coin Program didn’t begin until 2007, more than 165 years later. Here’s what actually exists:

The 1841 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar is a genuine 19th-century coin minted during Harrison’s presidency. It contains 90% silver and features Liberty seated on the obverse—not Harrison’s portrait. This is a valuable collectible coin that predates modern presidential coinage by generations.

The 2009 William Henry Harrison Presidential Dollar honors Harrison as part of the modern Presidential Dollar series. These coins were produced at Philadelphia (P mint mark) and San Francisco (S mint mark) facilities, with no Denver (D) mint production for this specific issue. The coins feature Harrison’s portrait on the obverse and the Statue of Liberty on the reverse.

Critically, no D mint mark exists for the Harrison Presidential Dollar—only P and S designations were used in 2009.

1841 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar Values by Grade

The 1841 Seated Liberty Dollar represents significant numismatic value due to its age, silver content, and limited surviving population. According to NGC Price Guide data, values range dramatically based on condition:

Circulated Grades:

• Good-4 (G-4): $350-$425
• Fine-12 (F-12): $475-$550
• Very Fine-20 (VF-20): $625-$750
• Extra Fine-40 (EF-40): $1,100-$1,350
• About Uncirculated-50 (AU-50): $2,200-$2,850

Uncirculated Grades:

• MS-60: $4,500-$6,200
• MS-63: $12,500-$18,000
• MS-65: $45,000-$75,000
• MS-67 and higher: $125,000+

The Philadelphia Mint struck these coins without a mint mark, which was standard practice for that facility during the 1840s. The 1841 issue had a relatively low mintage, making high-grade survivors exceptionally rare. A specimen graded MS-67 by NGC sold at Heritage Auctions in 2022 for $132,000, demonstrating the premium collectors place on exceptional examples.

When examining an 1841 Seated Liberty Dollar, authentication is critical. The coin should weigh 26.73 grams with a diameter of 38.1mm and contain approximately 0.77344 troy ounces of pure silver. Counterfeits exist, particularly of higher-grade specimens, making third-party grading essential for valuable examples.

2009 William Henry Harrison Presidential Dollar Standard Values

Presidential Dollars from 2009 present a completely different value proposition. The United States Mint produced these coins in massive quantities, with the Philadelphia Mint striking 43,260,000 circulation strikes and an additional 784,614 satin finish coins in uncirculated sets.

Standard Circulation Strikes:

• Circulated condition: Face value ($1)
• Uncirculated (MS-60 to MS-63): $1.25-$2.00
• MS-65: $3-$5
• MS-67: $8-$15

Proof Versions (S Mint Mark):

• Standard Proof (PR-69): $8-$12
• Deep Cameo Proof (PR-69 DCAM): $15-$25

The San Francisco Mint produced 2,809,452 proof coins for collectors in 2009. These proofs feature mirror-like fields and frosted devices, creating sharp contrast. While attractive, they remain common and affordable for most collectors.

The key distinction: regular Philadelphia and San Francisco strikes are worth essentially face value unless they contain significant errors. The metal composition is manganese-brass over a copper core—no precious metal content—which limits intrinsic value to manufacturing costs far below one dollar.

Error Varieties That Command Premium Prices

Error coins from the Presidential Dollar series can transform an otherwise common piece into a valuable collectible. The most significant errors for Harrison dollars include:

Doubled Edge Lettering Errors

Presidential Dollars feature edge inscriptions reading “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” the year, and the mint mark. Manufacturing errors occasionally cause this lettering to strike twice, creating two distinct types:

Overlapped Edge Lettering: The second impression partially covers the first, creating a blurred, doubled appearance. Examples typically sell for $50-$150 depending on the overlap’s clarity and overall coin condition.

Inverted Edge Lettering: The second strike appears upside-down relative to the first. This more dramatic error commands $100-$300 for clear examples. A particularly well-defined inverted edge lettering Harrison dollar sold through eBay in late 2023 for $285.

Missing Edge Lettering (Smooth Edge)

Some coins escaped the edge lettering process entirely, creating completely smooth edges. These “plain edge” errors are scarcer than doubled varieties. Authenticated examples certified by PCGS or NGC typically sell for $250-$600. The smooth edge must be confirmed as a mint error rather than post-mint alteration—professional grading services can make this determination.

Wrong Planchet Errors

Extremely rare Harrison dollars struck on planchets intended for other denominations exist. A Harrison dollar struck on a Sacagawea dollar planchet (essentially identical) would show no obvious difference, but one struck on a different planchet type could be worth $1,000-$5,000+ depending on the specific error.

Multiple Strike Errors

Coins that received multiple strikes from the dies show doubling or tripling of design elements. Clear multiple strike Harrison dollars can fetch $200-$800 based on dramatic the error appears.

Authenticating Your Harrison Dollar

Before celebrating a potential windfall, proper identification is essential. Here’s how to determine exactly what you have:

Step 1: Check the Date and Portrait

Look at the obverse (heads side). If the date reads “1841” and shows a seated Liberty figure, you have a Seated Liberty Dollar—not a Harrison Presidential Dollar. If you see Harrison’s portrait with “2009” below, you have the modern Presidential issue.

Step 2: Examine Mint Marks

For 2009 Harrison dollars, the mint mark appears on the edge inscription, not the coin face. P indicates Philadelphia; S indicates San Francisco proof. Remember: there is no D mint mark for Harrison dollars. Anyone claiming to have a “2009-D Harrison dollar” either has a different president’s coin or a counterfeit.

For 1841 Seated Liberty Dollars, Philadelphia Mint coins have no mint mark. Check above the date—if blank, it’s Philadelphia.

Step 3: Weight and Specifications

A genuine 1841 Seated Liberty Dollar weighs 26.73 grams. The 2009 Presidential Dollar weighs 8.1 grams. This dramatic difference immediately identifies which type you possess. A simple digital scale provides quick verification.

Step 4: Magnetic Test

Presidential Dollars are non-magnetic due to their manganese-brass and copper composition. If a supposed Harrison dollar attracts a magnet, it’s either counterfeit or a completely different coin. Seated Liberty Dollars are also non-magnetic (silver composition).

Maximizing Value When Selling

Once you’ve identified and authenticated your coin, strategic selling maximizes returns:

For 1841 Seated Liberty Dollars:

High-value coins (AU-50 and above) warrant professional grading by NGC or PCGS before selling. The $30-50 grading fee becomes negligible when it could mean thousands in additional value. Heritage Auctions, Stack’s Bowers, and Legend Numismatics handle significant Seated Liberty specimens, with auction fees typically 10-20% of hammer price.

Lower-grade circulated examples (G-4 through VF-20) might sell more efficiently through established coin dealers, though expect wholesale pricing 20-30% below retail guides. Local coin shops provide immediate payment but lower returns than auction houses.

For 2009 Harrison Presidential Dollars:

Standard strikes without errors are worth face value and can simply be spent. Banks will accept them like any other dollar coin.

Error varieties should be authenticated through PCGS or NGC error authentication services. Once certified, specialized error coin dealers like David Lawrence Rare Coins or ErrorCoins.net provide targeted markets. eBay remains viable for verified errors, where completed listings show Harrison edge lettering errors consistently selling in the $75-250 range.

For Proof Sets:

Complete 2009 Presidential Dollar proof sets (containing all four presidents from that year) typically sell for $35-50, making individual Harrison proofs worth approximately $8-12. Selling as complete sets generally yields better returns than breaking them apart.

Building a Presidential Dollar Collection

For those interested in assembling complete sets, the Harrison dollar represents just one piece of the 39-coin Presidential series (2007-2016). Complete circulation sets can be assembled for $50-75, as most issues remain at or near face value.

The most valuable regular Presidential Dollars include earlier issues with lower survival rates in high grades and certain 2012-2016 coins that weren’t released for general circulation. Harrison dollars, being mid-series with high mintages, serve as affordable placeholders while building comprehensive collections.

Error variety collectors find Presidential Dollars particularly rewarding due to the series’ manufacturing complexity. Edge lettering, applied as a separate step, created numerous error opportunities across all 39 designs. A specialized Harrison error collection might include overlapped edges, inverted edges, smooth edges, and multiple strikes—a complete error set potentially worth $500-1,000.

Where to Find Harrison Dollars Today

Presidential Dollars never achieved widespread circulation despite intentions. Most remain in Federal Reserve vaults or were melted. Finding Harrison dollars requires targeted approaches:

Bank Boxes: Order boxes of dollar coins from banks. While most contain Sacagawea dollars, occasional Presidential Dollars appear. Some collectors report finding entire rolls in bank searches.

Coin Shows: Regional and national coin shows feature dealers with Presidential Dollar inventories, often selling circulation strikes for $1.25-1.50 each—minimal premiums over face value.

Online Retailers: Websites like Modern Coin Mart and APMEX sell complete Presidential Dollar sets. Individual Harrison dollars cost $2-4 in standard grades.

Estate Sales and Flea Markets: Non-collectors often possess these coins from mint sets or bank acquisitions. Sharp-eyed buyers occasionally find underpriced examples, particularly error varieties that sellers don’t recognize.

Making the Most of Your Discovery

Whether you’ve found a valuable 1841 Seated Liberty Dollar or a modern 2009 Harrison Presidential Dollar, understanding the distinction protects you from costly mistakes. The Seated Liberty represents genuine numismatic value requiring careful authentication and strategic selling. The Presidential Dollar, while historically interesting, remains a modern issue with limited value unless featuring significant mint errors.

Check your coins carefully using this guide’s authentication steps, examine edges for error varieties that could multiply value dramatically, and consult professional grading services for anything potentially valuable. The difference between spending a dollar and discovering a thousand-dollar treasure often comes down to knowing exactly what you’re looking at—and now you do.