2007-S Madison Presidential $1 Coin Proof : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes ….

The 2007-S James Madison Presidential Dollar was the Proof version of the 2007 Madison Presidential Dollar coin, and the fourth and final Presidential Dollar issued in the program’s inaugural year.  Circulation quality versions of the design were struck at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, while this, the Proof version, was struck at the San Francisco Mint.

James Madison: Our Fourth President, the Third from Virginia

Often hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” and “Architect of the Bill of Rights,” James Madison was born on March 16, 1751, at his family’s plantation in Port Conway, Virginia. Madison, the eldest of twelve children born to James and Nelly Conway Madison, though often frail and in delicate health, possessed a keen intellect and a voracious appetite for learning.

His education at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) steeped him in classical languages, philosophy, and political theory, laying the groundwork for his future political career.

While he did not participate in the Revolutionary War as a soldier, Madison contributed significantly to the cause through his political service. In 1776, he helped draft the Virginia Constitution and the Virginia Declaration of Rights, playing a crucial role in securing an amendment that guaranteed religious freedom as a right for all citizens. He went on to serve in the Continental Congress, where he became a key advocate for a stronger central government, recognizing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Madison’s most enduring legacy was forged during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where he was a leading voice at the convention, arriving with a detailed blueprint for a new government known as the “Virginia Plan.” This proposal, which called for a strong federal government with three separate branches and a system of checks and balances, became the foundational framework for the U.S. Constitution. Madison’s detailed notes from the convention, published posthumously, remain the most comprehensive record of the proceedings.

To secure the Constitution’s ratification, Madison collaborated with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to write the Federalist Papers, a series of influential essays defending and explaining the new government. Madison penned 29 of these essays, including the seminal Federalist No. 10, where he articulated his theory on how a large, diverse republic could control the destructive effects of political factions.

Following the Constitution’s ratification, Madison served in the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first Congressman elected to the presidency.

As a key advisor to President George Washington, he played a central role in shaping the new federal government. His most significant accomplishment during this period was authoring and introducing the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which protect fundamental individual liberties.

However, Madison’s relationship with Washington and the Federalist Party soured due to his opposition to Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton’s financial policies. Madison believed Hamilton’s plans would benefit the wealthy elite at the expense of the general public. This ideological rift led Madison to align with Thomas Jefferson, and together they founded the Democratic-Republican Party.

When Jefferson became president in 1801, he appointed Madison as his Secretary of State. In this role, Madison navigated complex diplomatic challenges, most notably helping to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which doubled the size of the United States. Jefferson, leery that he might not have the authority to make the purchase, was convinced by Madison that he did and that the expenditure was a prudent use of executive power.

More challenging, was the delicate diplomacy he had to undertake to keep the country out of the raging conflict between Great Britain and France. America’s conflict with Britain would dominate his presidency.

In 1808, James Madison was elected the fourth President of the United States. His two terms in office (1809–1817) were dominated by foreign policy crises, culminating in the War of 1812. After years of diplomatic failures and British impressment of American sailors, Madison reluctantly asked Congress to declare war. The conflict was a major test for the young nation, and Madison himself became the only sitting President to lead troops in battle when he took command of the militia defending Washington, D.C. The war ultimately ended with a renewed sense of American nationalism and the vindication of U.S. sovereignty.

Madison’s presidency was also marked by a pragmatic shift in his political philosophy. Having previously opposed the idea of a national bank on constitutional grounds, he came to support the chartering of the Second Bank of the United States in 1816, recognizing its necessity for stabilizing the nation’s economy after the war.

After leaving the presidency in 1817, James Madison retired to his Virginia plantation, Montpelier. He spent his retirement years engaged in intellectual pursuits, public service, and the preservation of his legacy, even serving as the rector of the University of Virginia, following in the footsteps of his close friend, Thomas Jefferson.

A primary focus of his final years was the meticulous organization of his extensive notes from the Constitutional Convention. He intended this detailed record of the founding debates to be published posthumously, demonstrating his deep desire to ensure future generations understood the principles and compromises that shaped the nation.

On June 28, 1836, James Madison, suffering from congestive heart failure, died peacefully at Montpelier at the age of 85. As the last of the key Founding Fathers to pass away, his death severed a living link to America’s revolutionary beginnings. In his final years, he harbored the belief that the country was drifting away from the framers’ ideals. Although he did not publicly criticize President Andrew Jackson, he privately expressed concerns about “Old Hickory’s” leadership style and his expansion of executive power.

How the 2007-S James Madison $1 Coin Proof was Sold

The most common ordering options for the 2007-S James Madison Presidential Dollar were the 2007 United States Mint Clad and Silver Proof Sets, which featured one of every coin issued for circulation in 2007. The Sacagawea Dollar was housed alongside the Lincoln Memorial Cent, Jefferson Nickel (Monticello Reverse Resumed), Roosevelt Dime, and Kennedy Half Dollar Proofs in one plastic holder, while State Quarters for Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, and Utah were housed in a second holder.

The 2007 Presidential Dollar Proof Sets, featuring George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, originally came in packaging with an oil painting backdrop of the U.S. flag and the Constitution. The same packaging was also used for the standalone Presidential $1 Coin Proof Set, which debuted on June 15, 2007, for $14.95.

Today, these standalone Presidential $1 Coin Proof Sets typically retail for under $10, with some sales reported as low as $4 (face value!). For collectors primarily interested in acquiring the 2007 dollar coins, these sets remain the most economical choice.

Another option for collectors was the Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature Set. Released on July 8, 2008 for $19.95, this set was a collaboration with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP). It included an intaglio-printed copy of Jefferson’s signature, provided by the White House Historical Association. These sets now sell for around $12.

The Certified Market: Proof 69 vs. Proof 70

NGC and PCGS have combined to grade over 64,00 2007-S James Madison Presidential Dollar Proofs. The data reveals significant differences in the population reports and grading ratios between PCGS and NGC for the 2007-S James Madison Proof Dollar. NGC has graded a much larger total number of these coins (45,580) compared to PCGS (18,625).

A notable difference is the ratio of coins receiving a grade of PR69 versus a perfect PR70. The NGC population report shows a ratio of about 3.49 PR69 coins for every one PR70 coin. In contrast, the PCGS report indicates a much higher ratio of approximately 9.25 PR69 coins for every one PR70 coin. This suggests either that achieving a perfect PR70 grade with PCGS for this specific coin is considerably more difficult than with NGC, or more NGC submitters set Proof 70 as their minimum grade for encapsulation.

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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Top Population: PCGS PR70DCAM (1,818, 9/2025), NGC PF70UCAM (10,152, 9/2025), and CAC N/A (9/2025).

• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay, September 15, 2025 – $13. 5 bids.
• NGC PF70UCAM: eBay, September 15, 2025 – $19.95. Buy It Now.
• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay, September 13, 2025 – $12.25. 5 bids.
• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay, September 11, 2025 – $13.50. 6 bids.
• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay, September 7, 2025 – $15.03. 10 bids.

Design

Obverse:

The center of the coin is filled with forward-facing portrait of James Madison. The inscription JAMES MADISON wraps around the top of the portrait. Along the bottom, the inscription reads: 4th PRESIDENT and 1809–1817. The initials of the artists are on Madison’s lapels: Joel Iskowitz’s JI on the left and Don Everhart’s DE on the right.

Common Reverse:

Don Everhart’s reverse design features an ant’s-eye view of the Statue of Liberty offset to the left. On the coin, Liberty occupies the bottom right quadrant of the coin, her extended elbow being the coin’s center point. The design is framed by a thin inner circle, which separates the graphic design from the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Beneath Liberty’s extended torch-bearing arm is the denomination $1. This is the common reverse design for all Presidential Dollar coins.

Edge:

The edge of the Presidential Dollar is lettered and features the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, the mintmark, the year of issuance, and 13 five-pointed stars. This edge inscription may be oriented facing the obverse (Position A) or the reverse (Position B).

Coin Specifications

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