James K. Polk $1 Presidential coin released

Tennessean James K. Polk takes his turn on a Presidential coin. The U.S. Mint released the $1 coin Thursday morning at his family home in Columbia.

The Presidential series began with the George Washington coin issued in 2007. Each year the U.S. Mint releases four new coins with Presidents appearing in the order of their term in office.

A portrait of Polk appears on the “heads” side of the coin, along with the President’s name and inscriptions “In God We Trust,” “11th President,” and his dates in office – 1845 to 1849.

Andy Brunhart of the U.S. Mint says these coins are not just collector’s items.

“The Federal Reserve has 900 million Presidential dollar coins in inventory in their bank system. And all, people don’t commonly know, you need to do is go to a bank and ask the cash teller for them to give you the issue you want.”

In Polk’s one term as President he oversaw expansion of the United States to the Pacific Ocean, started the Naval Academy and issued the first U.S. postage stamp. He died three months after leaving office.

Polk’s wife Sarah is credited for starting the use of “Hail to the Chief” as the Presidential anthem.