The 200th Anniversary of the White House and Its Continuous Improvement
The bicentennial of the White House’s construction as the home of American Presidents was celebrated in 1992. The cornerstone of the White House was laid in 1792, and the building became the official residence in 1800, nearly a year after President Washington’s death. James Hoban, the architect and designer of the White House, also helped rebuild after the White House fire in 1814 and added the South Portico.
Many Presidents have lived in the White House since Washington, and each presidential family has added to the house to improve it for the next family. During Truman’s presidency, the White House underwent a major refurbishment, and he was able to preserve its exterior walls. In 1909, President Taft created the Oval Office, and Nixon converted the indoor swimming pool into the Press Briefing Room.
There are a few personal additions presidents have made as well. Roosevelt added an indoor swimming pool in the East Wing for polio treatments, Nixon added a bowling alley in the basement, and Obama replaced the tennis court with a basketball court. In late 2025, work began that resulted in demolition of the historic East Wing of the White House as part of an ongoing project to construct a large new ballroom and expanded facilities; a controversial alteration that generated public and preservationist debate.
Design Details
The legislation to mint a commemorative coin was passed, and Congress authorized the striking of 1992 White House Bicentennial Silver Dollars in uncirculated and proof finishes to commemorate the celebration. The coin’s obverse features a central vignette dominated by a front view of the White House. The flag, flying at full staff, separates the two bi-centennial dates “1792” and “1992”. Under the depiction of the White House is “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “THE WHITE HOUSE” is on the upper periphery, and “LIBERTY” is on the lower. U.S. Mint sculptor Edgar Z. Steever is credited with the obverse design.
The reverse depicts the original main entrance to the White House and a partial bust of James Hoban, the architect and designer of the White House. Below the bust is his name, “JAMES HOBAN,” while behind him is “E PLURIBUS UNUM”. Designed by another US Mint sculptor, Chester Martin, the upper periphery has “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and the lower periphery has the denomination “ONE DOLLAR.” Chester Y. Martin designed the reverse.
The uncirculated version was struck at the Denver Mint and bears a “D” mintmark, while the proof version was struck at the West Point Mint and has a “W” mintmark. The maximum authorized mintage for both coins combined was 500,000, and all were sold.
123,808 uncirculated coins were struck, and 375,851 proof coins were also struck. That 500,000 authorized mintage was the lowest authorized number for any commemorative silver dollar.
The surcharges for the coin went to the White House Endowment Fund to pay for fine art and furniture acquisitions of contemporary pieces from the period, as well as for the maintenance of all public rooms and facilities. Add this coin to your collection and discover other U.S. classic silver commemorative coins today.
