The U.S. Mint will print new dollar coins with the faces of U.S. presidents on them. Beginning in February 2007 and at the pace of four a year, the Mint will release the new $1 coins to what it hopes is a demanding public.

George Washington, the country's first president, will adorn the first set of coins released. John Adams, the second president, will follow, three months later. At the rate of four a year, the Mint will be printing new $1 coins for more than 10 years.

Each president will appear only once, with the exception of Grover Cleveland, who is the only U.S. president to have been elected to two non-consecutive terms. Only presidents who have been dead for two years at the potential time of publishing will appear on the coins. In other words, Ford, Carter, Clinton, and both Bushes will have to wait awhile.

The designs for the coins were made public during a recent ceremony at the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution. Paintings hanging in that gallery served as models for the coins.

On the back of each coin will be the Statue of Liberty. The coins as a whole will be golden in color but not made of gold. They will be the same size as two other recent $1 coins, those commemorating Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea. The coins will be a little larger than a quarter.