WASHINGTON - The United States Mint paid tribute to the Nation's sixth President by releasing the John Quincy Adams Presidential $1 Coin into general circulation on May 15, 2008.  John Quincy Adams had a long and distinguished public service career.  After his Presidency, Adams served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 17 years. 

"$1 coins are great for use in everyday transactions, and the John Quincy Adams Presidential $1 Coin is also an educational tool," said United States Mint Acting Deputy Director Dan Shaver. "As Americans use the coin in commerce, we hope it prompts them to learn about this President's contributions to our great Nation."

John Quincy Adams devoted most of his adult life to public service.  After graduating from Harvard College, he became a lawyer.  He was appointed minister to the Netherlands by George Washington and served in the administration of his father, President John Adams, as minister to Prussia.  He also was elected to the U.S. Senate.  While serving as Secretary of State in the administration of James Monroe, John Quincy Adams arranged with England for the joint occupation of the Oregon country and obtained from Spain the cession of the Floridas.

John Quincy Adams was elected President in 1824 and served one term in office.  John Adams, the Nation's second President, and John Quincy Adams, the sixth President, were the first father and son to be elected President of the United States.

While serving in the House of Representatives after his Presidency, John Quincy Adams worked tirelessly to end slavery in America.  He introduced many petitions to abolish slavery and the slave trade.  He also successfully represented the Amistad Africans before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that they were being held illegally as slaves because the international slave trade had been abolished, though slavery in America had yet to be ended.

The United States Mint has issued more than one billion Presidential $1 Coins in the order the Presidents served, starting with the George Washington Presidential $1 Coin in February 2007.  John Quincy Adams was the sixth President, and he is being honored with the sixth Presidential $1 Coin.

The design of the John Quincy Adams Presidential $1 Coin, like all of the Presidential $1 Coins, was created to be bold and dramatic.  The inscriptions "E Pluribus Unum" and "In God We Trust," as well as the date and the mint mark, are edge-lettered on the John Quincy Adams Presidential $1 Coin.  Next year, the 2009 Presidential $1 Coins will bear the inscription "In God We Trust" on the obverse (heads side) of the coin. 

The obverse of the John Quincy Adams Presidential $1 Coin was designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart.  He also designed and sculpted the reverse (tails side) of all the Presidential $1 Coins, featuring a magnificent image of the Statue of Liberty.

The United States Mint inaugurated the Presidential $1 Coin Series with the George Washington Presidential $1 Coin on February 15, 2007, in time for Presidents Day weekend.  The John Adams Presidential $1 Coin followed on May 17, 2007; the Thomas Jefferson Presidential $1 Coin was introduced on August 16, 2007; the James Madison Presidential $1 Coin was introduced on November 15, 2007; and the James Monroe Presidential $1 Coin was released on February 14, 2008.

High resolution images of the circulating John Quincy Adams Presidential $1 Coin are available at http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=photo#Pres

You can find background information on the Presidential $1 Coins at http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/index.cfm

Lesson plans are available for download at www.usmint.gov/kids/.