Sacagawea Dollars (2000 – 2008)
In 1998, a new design for the small dollar coin was part of a national competition. The winner was artist Glenna Goodacre, who won ahead of 120 other artists’ submissions. Goodacre depicted a young, Native American Shoshone tribe person, Sacagawea, with her infant son, Jean Baptiste, on her back. These coins have since been referred to as Sacagawea Dollars.
The coin was given a golden color to distinguish it from other denominations, which was the complaint with the other small sized dollars like the Susan B. Anthony coin. That coin was only slightly larger than the Quarter Dollar so there was much confusion among the public.
Sacagawea and her infant son were depicted on the obverse and the word “LIBERTY” is above them. The date below and the motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST,” is to the left.
On the reverse an eagle is depicted in flight, surrounded by 17 five-pointed stars, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” is on the upper periphery and the denomination, “ONE DOLLAR”, is on the lower periphery. To the left is the motto, “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Key Dates and Varieties
2000-P Sacagawea Dollar with the ‘Cheerios Finish’
The U.S. Mint enlisted corporations to help them promote the new dollar coins, one of them being General Mills. In boxes of Cheerios were either the new Lincoln Cents or a new Golden Dollar. Some of the new dollars had sharply-defined tail feathers. These are the rare Cheerio Dollars that are quite valuable.
They are actively sought, and the marked Cheerio boxes bring strong premiums.
The ‘regular’ coins have much less detail on them, as redesigned.
2000-P Sacagawea Dollar, Goodacre Finish
Glenna Goodacre’s design was the winning design for this coin. She was paid a $5,000 commission, but she requested that she be paid in Sacagawea Dollars. The dollars that she received were struck on burnished planchets using highly-polished dies that gave the coins a proof-like surface. The U.S. Mint even used a higher amount of pressure to ensure that the coins did appear proof-like. Finally, they were treated with an antioxidant to retard any change in appearance.
The following dates and mintmarks were struck in two different finishes 0 the regular finish and the Satin Finish:
Native American Dollars (2009 – Present)
The Native American $1 Coin Act honors the contributions that Native Americans and they tribes have made to America. The obverse of all of these coins bears the Goodacre portrait of Sacagawea and her infant son. The reverse changes from year to year honoring Native American individuals as well as Native American Tribes.
The coins were struck in both Uncirculated and Proof finishes.
The reverses are as follows:
- 2009 – The Three Sisters – Corn, Beans and Squash
- 2010 – Hiawatha Belt and arrows
- 2011 – Plymouth Colony Peace Pipe
- 2012 – Trade Routes of 17th Century
- 2013 – Treaty of Lenape – First formal treaty with a Native tribe.
- 2014 – Ceremonial Peace Pipe and Compass
- 2015 – Mohawk Ironworkers
- 2016 – Native Codetalkers
- 2017 – Sequoyah
- 2018 – Jim Thorpe
- 2019 – Native Americans in the Space Program
- 2020 – Elizabeth Peratrovich
- 2021 – Native Americans in the Military
- 2022 – Ely Parker
- 2023 – Maria Tallchief
Key Dates and Varieties
2010-D Native American Dollar, Satin Finish, Position A
The 2010-D Native American Dollar has lettering on the edge of the coin that is available in Position A or Position B. Position A means the edge lettering is upside down when the portrait is face up. Position B indicates that the edge lettering is facing right side up when the reverse of the coin is face up.
2010-D Native American Dollar, Satin Finish, Position B
On this coin, the edge lettering is right side up when the portrait is face up.
2014-D Native American Dollar, Enhanced Finish, Position B
Several of the Native American Dollars have an enhanced finish on some uncirculated coins. The finish uses multiple layers of frosting to create different and unique highlighting which gives the coins an unusual appearance. These enhanced uncirculated coins were included in numismatic coin sets with limited mintages.
Sacagawea Golden Dollar Values
| Date MM | Mintage | Very Fine | Abt Unc | Ch Unc |
| 2000-P Cheerios | 5,500 | $500 | $675 | $1,250 |
| 2000-P Goodacre Fin | 5,000 | $100 | $175 | $450 |
| Common Sacagawea | —- | $1.50 | $2 | $4 |
Native American Dollar Values
| Date MM | Mintage | Very Fine | Abt Unc | Ch Unc |
| 2010-D, Satin, Pos A | Included | $5 | $12 | $30 |
| 2010-D, Satin, Pos B | Included | $5 | $10 | $25 |
| 2014-D, Enhan, Pos B | Included | $12 | $30 | $175 |
| Common Native Am. | —- | $1.50 | $2 | $4 |
