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Have You Seen The Barack Obama Coins?

by Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez

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No matter what your thoughts are on the results of the 2008 presidential election, you cannot deny the buzz around products featuring images of president-elect Barack Obama.

Among the memorabilia are new coin products that depict President Barack Obama.

It is important to know that these new Barack Obama coins may be great items for the history buff, presidential student, or fan of the new president-elect, but these coins are not official legal-tender products of the United States Mint.

Coins such as the Barack Obama coin generally fall into the categories of “novelty coins” or “rounds.”

The Treasury Department has received a lot of questions about these coins. The U.S. Mint does not issue inaugural coins, and it wants to make sure everyone knows that. In a recent consumer alert, the government reminds potential buyers these coins are not official United States Mint products. Furthermore, these products, businesses, and advertisements are not approved, endorsed, sponsored or authorized by the United States Mint, the Department of the Treasury or the United States Government. 

– Source

Barack Obama Colorized Silver Eagle

Just the other evening, I happened to see a Home Shopping Network ad for a 2008 Obama Colorized Silver Eagle.

This coin is colorized and features an image of the new president-elect on the obverse of the coin.

On the reverse is an unaltered reverse bearing an eagle.

This coin, being sold for $49.95 on the Home Shopping Network website, makes a great addition for anybody enthusiastic about the new president-elect or those interested in presidential history, but beware that the only aspect of this coin that is an official U.S. Mint product is the original silver eagle itself. The colorized portions were added by a private party.

Barack Obama Gold and Silver Coins

Winston, Elizabeth, and Windsor, a private British minting company, has been producing and selling gold and silver coins bearing an image of Barack Obama.

The sterling silver version of the coin is being sold for £295 (about $465 right now) and is a full 60 millimeters in diameter.

Gold-plated Barack Obama coins are being sold for £35 (about $55), and for another £10 ($16), you can include a wooden presentation box.

Barack Obama One-Ounce Silver Coins

Vision Trading Partners of Las Vegas, Nevada is selling a one-ounce silver coin featuring a bust of Barack Obama on the obverse and an image of an eagle on the reverse.

This silver coin is struck by Sunshine Minting of Idaho and currently sells for $100.

Are Barack Obama Coins A Good Investment?

Remember, Barack Obama coins have nothing to do with the Presidential $1 coin series and are not U.S. Mint products.

In fact, a very high number of Barack Obama coins are simply regular U.S. Mint coins — like quarters and American silver eagles painted with pictures of Obama or covered in a Barack Obama sticker.

Essentially all Barack Obama coins fall into the area of novelty coins.

Few, if any, of the Barack Obama coins are rare or even scarce because so many have been made.

What’s more, it’s doubtful that any of these Barack Obama coin products will be considered good investments… at least not for many, many years.

PUBLISHED November 11, 2008
UPDATED July 28, 2026

Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez

Numismatic Specialist

Hi, I’m Josh! I’m the Editor here at the US Coins Guide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century.

I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG). I have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek.

I’ve authored over 1,000 articles here at the US Coins Guide (many with over 50K shares).

I welcome your coin questions!

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