2016-S $1 Gerald Ford, DCAM PR70DCAM Certification #83808744, PCGS #595757

Charles Morgan

The 2016 Gerald R. Ford Presidential Dollar

In 2016, the Presidential $1 Coin Program—which debuted in 2007 with George Washington—reached a scheduled hiatus. Per federal law, a president can only be honored if they have been deceased for at least two years. Because Jimmy Carter was then living, he was bypassed, and the Mint issued only three coins that year: Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, and Ronald W. Reagan.

The Mint unveiled the Gerald Ford design on December 15, 2015. Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill rendered the portrait, likely modeled after David Hume Kennerly’s 1975 official photograph.

The Legacy of Gerald R. Ford

Gerald R. Ford holds a unique place in American history as the only person to serve as both Vice President and President without being elected to either office. A respected "Congressman’s Congressman," Ford was appointed to replace the disgraced Spiro Agnew, who resigned in 1973 amid a bribery and tax fraud scandal.

While Agnew was known as Nixon's "attack dog," Ford was a bridge-builder. His nomination passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. However, before he could even move into the Vice President’s residence, the Watergate scandal culminated in Richard Nixon's resignation. Ford was sworn in as the 37th President on August 9, 1974.

Gerald R. Ford’s presidency was a period of political tension, dominated by his controversial decision to issue a full pardon to Richard Nixon on September 18, 1974. While Ford maintained that the pardon was a necessary step to heal a fractured nation, the move was deeply unpopular and significantly damaged his political standing, ultimately contributing to his narrow defeat by Jimmy Carter in 1976. Domestically, Ford struggled with an economy in turmoil, characterized by a staggering 12% inflation rate and a growing budget deficit. On the world stage, his administration was forced to navigate the chaotic collapse of South Vietnam while simultaneously attempting to manage Cold War tensions through the continued policy of détente with the Soviet Union and China.

Beyond policy, Ford’s legacy was unexpectedly shaped by his public image, which suffered from a profound irony. Despite being one of the most gifted athletes to hold the office—having been a star football player at the University of Michigan—Ford was immortalized as a "klutz" in the popular consciousness. This reputation stemmed largely from a 1975 incident where he slipped on the wet steps of Air Force One in Austria, an event that Chevy Chase turned into a weekly slapstick ritual on Saturday Night Live. These exaggerated pratfalls created a lasting perception of Ford as a bumbling oaf, a narrative that overshadowed his genuine physicality and competitive past during his time in the White House.

Collecting the Gerald R. Ford Proof

The 2016-S Gerald R. Ford Proof was sold in multiple offerings:

• Annual Proof Sets: Included in both the standard clad and silver Proof Sets. The 2016 United States Mint Proof Set (Clad) launched on April 1, 2016, followed by the 2016 United States Mint Silver Proof Set on April 18.
• Presidential Dollar Proof Set: This standalone three-coin set featured the Nixon, Ford, and Reagan dollars in the same lenses used for the annual sets. It was released on February 16, 2016, for $17.95.

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