Sacagawea Dollar Gets New Reverse Types
Wednesday September 5, 2007
The Sacagawea Dollar will be getting some new reverse types starting in 2009, thanks to a bill which has just passed both houses of Congress. H.R. 2358, known as the "Native American $1 Coin Act," requires the Secretary of the Treasury (and by extension, the U.S. Mint) to "mint and issue coins in commemoration of Native Americans." These new Sacagawea Dollars are required to comprise no less than 20% of the Dollar coins issued in a given year.The bill doesn't require that any particular reverse types be used, leaving those decisions to several committees it names, but it does offer a few suggestions for people and events that should be commemorated, including:
- Creation of the Cherokee written language
- Existence of the Iroquois Confederacy
- Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag
- The Pueblo Revolt
- Olympic Champion Jim Thorpe
- General Ely S. Parker, who headed the Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Navajo "code talkers"
Sacagawea Dollar Gets Edge Lettering
The Native American $1 Coin Act also stipulates that the Sacagawea Dollar will get edge incused lettering, to include the following inscriptions: date of issuance, E Pluribus Unum, and In God We Trust. Although the bill doesn't specifically call for the mint mark to be on the edge (or anywhere else,) I think it is safe to assume that it will appear on the edge following the date, as it does now on the Presidential Dollars. What is interesting is the requirement that In God We Trust be on the edge, which is contrary to other legislation that has passed the House (but is still pending in the Senate.) The bill that passed in the House is unenforceable as written, so it will probably die, but the issue of In God We Trust being moved to the edge of the coins isn't going to go away. Many Americans don't like this motto being on the edge of the coins, because they think it "demotes" God's place on our coinage.Section 4 of the bill reads as follows:
"In order to remove barriers to circulation, the Secretary of the Treasury shall carry out an aggressive, cost-effective, continuing campaign to encourage commercial enterprises to accept and dispense $1 coins that have as designs on the obverse the so-called 'Sacagawea design'."
The most cost-effective and aggressive method of removing barriers to circulation is to stop printing the One Dollar bill and simply rely on the $1 coins, like just about every other leading nation in the world has already done with their base monetary unit.
What do you think about the Native American $1 Coin Act? Do you like seeing the reverses of our coins changing a lot, or would you prefer that they stick with the same designs for awhile? Share your opinion in the Comments section below.
Photo courtesy of the United States Mint.
Comments
Changing designs is a fine idea. It apparently has worked for the mint, especially with the 50 State Quarters series.
Agree that the dollar coin will likely not widely circulate until the paper dollar is retired. The Presidential Dollars suffer in the same way. See http://www.valuable-coin-stories.com/presidential-dollar-coin.html
I do not like the $1 coin. Was confusing
when they did it earlier. Keep the DOLLAR
BILL ALIVE. And they want to take IN GOD WE TRUST off the money?????? What is happening to AMERICA.
Nothing is confusing about the new dollar coin. How could anyone possibly look at the coin with the large “$1″ stamped on it and not know it is worth $1???? How could anyone feel the larger coin with distinctive edge and say it feels like the reeded edge of a quarter??? How could anyone confuse the 14K gold color of a new dollar coin (or the darker gold of a circulated and aged dollar coin) with the silvery color of a quarter???
Those who make up false reasons for hating the new dollar coins are either flat out lying or they are so incompetant that they should not handle any coins or currency. What if they mistook a $1 with a $10 or a $100 bill? After all, they are IDENTICAL in size !!!
Oh, and for “IN GOD WE TRUST”, it is now significantly LARGER now that is is on the edge of the coin. When stacked, you can read the motto MANY times. If you “hide” it on the flat side of the coin, it will be smaller and unable to be read when stacked. Why would someone want to hide it or prevent people from reading it by returning it to the flat and hidden side? Maybe they want to do this intentionally? How evil !!
US coin designs are cluttered. Sure, it’s common sense to have date, mint mark, denomination, and country of issuance, but do we really need three (3!) different mottoes? “Liberty” is short and sweet, but I’m happy to see “In God We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum” moved to the edge of the Sacagawea Dollar.
For 50 years I collected both US coins and US stamps. I have almost all of the US stamps from the late 1800’s until about 2000. I quit collecting them because the USPS decided to commercialize by adding so many stamps that we had to buy in order to keep the collection current and complete. The USPS knew that a vast majority of the stamps would never be placed on an envelope and they would not have to do any work in return for the purchase. It is a big business now.
The same thing is happening with the US Mint. There are too many new coins with too many variations. What does a collector have to do to keep the collection current? What does a collector have to do to capture all the new variations? The collector must buy a lot of coins from the mint at marked up prices. Or, buy them from dealers that capture the cost at the retail level. So far I have them all. But, I am closer to the position that that made me fall out of the stamp game.
Don’t beleive it when the US Mint says it is in the interesst of history and recognition. It is in the interest of money.
David
I think it is time to do away with the 1$ bill. The coins work well if given a chance. I also like the idea of having the reverse change once in a while especially to honer people that have contributed to U.S. History. Finally leave “In God We Trust” where it is, not hiden on the side of the coin.
MY WISH LIST
I wish the Mint would STOP messing with our coins every 3 months (or so). We’ve had the Lincoln Cent for almost 100 years (it has served us well). But, I agree, it’s time for a new one.
I wish the Mint would create a new design for the cent, but leave it alone for 25 years or so.
I wish the Mint would stop changing the obverse (or reverse) of a coin several times a year. This WAS a great idea for the State Quarters but it’s been nine years now and the interest is diminishing.
I wish the Mint would leave the date and mint mark on the obverse of a coin. That’s where it belongs along with “In God We Trust”.
I wish they would eliminate the paper dollar if they want people to use the dollar coins. As for the popularity of the Presidential Dollars; they are only popular because people are looking for errors. A cashier at a store told me the management has instructed them not to return dollar coins (Presidential or Sacagawea) to customers in change because people do not want them.
I wish the Mint would listen to what the people want (not just collectors, but everyone) and deliver a quality product that is consistent over time.
I wish the Mint would simplify their offerings to collectors. There are too many coins in too many varieties in too many different types of packages.
I wish the Mint, when they decide to do something, they would do it well (quality before quantity). I just received my 2007 proof sets. One of the quarters has a noticeable particle of some foreign matter on it. One of the half dollars looks like it may have a finger “smudge’ on it. And several other coins look almost toned. I dug out some 1997 and 1996 proof sets and none of them have problems like this.
What’s on your wish list?
I feel the more coin variety the better-keeps it interesting. I also feel the new reverses planned for the Sac dollar are long over due. Native American’s deserve this type of recognition plus A whole lot more!!!
The Mint should leave the date and a “legible” mint mark on the obverse of all coins where it belongs along with “In God We Trust”. Edge lettering makes it impossible to identify the year or mint site of a coin kept in the original packaging. Since the Mint infuses about one (1) BILLION dollars annually into the general treasury, that must mean that we collectors are buying a substantial amount of coins at inflated prices that never see circulation. Please help us, your best customers, by producing and packaging coins that can be both identified and kept in original unsearched mint packaging.
I agree wholeheartedly with the above comment about postage stamps and coins having so many different issues that it is becoming too costly to keep up with a decent collection of either, much less both.
I totally agree with comment #5. I too stopped collecting stamps due to over production and am doing the same with coins. The Presidential issue not only looks bad but is totally unnecessary. When they make coins (or stamps) just to generate profit rather than serve any real financial need its time to get out.
Compare the weight of 10 One dollar bills with 10 One dollar coins and then decide which is easier to carry and handle. Keep the dollar bills and drop the dollar coins. I think the public has more than adequately demonstrated that they don’t want the dollar coins but in Congress a bad idea never goes away. Especially if there is big business money behind it.
I welcome the idea of honoring the Indian people on these coins. Leave “in god we trust” on them as well as the date and mint mark on the front or back, Not on the edge. Why not bring back some of the beautiful designs that we had on our coins in the 1800’s for general circulation, as well as proofs.
I also had to give up stamp collecting several years ago. Talk about expensive; try keeping up with each new issue plus FDC’s and plate blocks every year!
Coins are different, though in my view. A few new designs a year doesn’t compare to dozens of new stamps annually, and it keeps things interesting. 25 years with the same design is ok, but boring after a few years. (Bottom line, though: is that a big deal?)
So the gov makes a little extra on stamps & coins to collectors? It doesn’t diminish the thrill for the collector (if not overwhelmed with too many issues), and it helps keep the cost down for the consumer.
I like a $1 coin, but I’m not for eliminating the bills entirely; however, I would rather see more $2 bills in circulation, and heck – even a $3 bill! (Who would be on it? Great place to get Native American culture on paper currency – if the “$3 bill” stigma could be overcome.)
I don’t want to come off as anti-religious, but I don’t need a reminder on currency to help me trust in God. Of course, there’s no harm done by having the motto there, but I would not be offended if it were removed, and I would still spend money and trust in God if the words were not there. If it is such a big deal to advertise the trust, why stop with money? If someone might forget to trust in God if it didn’t say so on money, why not include it on all government issued items – tax forms, licenses, tobacco product warnings, etc. That’s facetious, of course, and the point is whether it really matters to make a religious statement on money. (Why not force banks to put it on credit cards?) Then, there’s the issue about separation of religion & state, but I don’t think that really applys in this case.
Tradition also comes into play for monetary design, and it is a powerful force for resisting change – but like it or not, such change is going on right now at full speed.
Different kind of change: Would the rest of the world change their opinion of America if the religious motto were removed? Do we have a lower opinion of non-Americans based on their currency not declaring a religious trust? I don’t, but I don’t insist that my opinion should represent about a quarter-billion others. Voicing an opinion is one thing (as long as our Constitution is in effect – there’s something to trust God about), but imposing that opinion on others is not what our democracy is all about. If it comes down to popular vote, my vote would be to just keep it for those who feel strongly about it, and I’m not picky where it is located.
Anyway, I agree that if our trust in God is going to be stated on coins, the edge is not a demotion. As was pointed out in a previous comment, in a stack, it would show on every coin, and the human pictured may or may not show on the top coin. Should we put the trust motto on both sides so no matter which side is ‘up’, there it is? Better, yet — put it on both sides AND the edge!
As for being on the edge only, an enlarged photo of the edge lettering could be printed in albums or on grading slabs where the edges are not easy to display so anyone viewing the album or slab could be assured that the motto is indeed there. When it comes down to it though, I’m ok with it being there or not. Currently, it is usually in the smallest font on the coin other than the designers initials – how about making “Liberty” and “United States of America” tiny and “In God We Trust” large?
As a budding numismatist, my opinion may not carry as much weight, but I can offer a view that may represent other “newbies” in the hobby. I look for scarcity vs abundance. One of the greatest joys I am having is discovering these scarcities.
If the government keeps changing designs then we lose the opportunity that limited editions like the Westward Journey nickels represent. I have been amazed at how few people in the general public even know it exists. They know that something has changed about the nickel but can’t put their finger on it until it is pointed out. Therein lies the find.
Issues like the WJ nickel series, the Sacagaweas, and the Presidentials are current, affordable investment opportunities for the budding numismatist. If the government decides to muddy the waters with constant changes in a particular coin series, collectors like myself will lose interest. I like the idea of coming across a real “find” and offering them for sale to others as a product that can still claim it is “made in the USA.” I take pride in the ingenuity of this country and hope it will continue to offer investors like me an opportunity to have something unique yet also uniquely American to collect.
I will advocate one change though since it is fairly obvious that the majority of Americans do trust in God as evidenced in religious census. Given the constant state of threat that many countries live with, including the United States, it makes more sense to me to have our currency say, “God bless America.”
I don’t like the dollar coins because i usually have anywhere from 8 to 15 one dollar bills in my pocket, imagine toting around that many dollar coins for a day or so, probably would help you lose weight. Also the clothing people would have to start putting leather pockets on pants!!
The $1 coin is no big deal to me. I use them and I’ve found it’s actually easier to pull a few dollar coins from my coat pocket than digging for my wallet in the winter.
I hope the Sacagawea’s are available openly to the public. Otherwise I wont collect them…or use them.
I’ve said this before on other forums I believe the strong resistance to the dollar coin is a) the dollar bill is still produced and b) people want a small denominational bill and currently really have no alternative other than the $5 bill. YES, the $2 bill is still produced, but it is rarely seen. I say if the $1 coin is to succeed then eliminate the $1 bill and start printing large amounts of $2 bills. In a few years people will have gotten use to the idea that a $1 is a coin and not a bill. (After all how many things actually cost a dollar anymore anyway? A $2 bill would work nicely and a dollar coin is a help to machine vendors).
i am not a “perfessional” coin collecter but i do try to have every variety of coins in circulation. i agre with comment #5 that they should stop changing designes. i agree with comment 13 that our coins should say god bless America. the presidental coins are nice and the quarter and nickle varietys are nice too. i think that the Sacagawea dollar should change reverse designes once or twice but that is IT!!! the $1 coins and bills should BOTH continue production. also the penny should stay the same or change veriety ONCE and stay that way for at least 3 decades. also why remove edge lettering? i think it should just be made bigger.
i do not like the idea of honoring enemies of the us but that does seem to be the standard now days.
as for the small dollars,i like the large ones. i think the ike dollar was the best thing they did in a long while.i don t think they lose money with a paper dollar. if the mint is losing money minting cents and nickels,then stop. figure out what to do.use cardboard but don t keep throwing money away.thats stupid and people know it.
Please, Just leave, “In God we trust”, in place! Please.
For those of you who complain about the dollar coin, actually use them. It is so much easier to reach into a pocket and pull out a dollar than to flip around in a wallet looking for a filthy dollar bill that is tapped together, dog earred, and has been in a strippers g-string. Use the deuce and spend the coins in your pocket rather than letting them rip a hole in your pocket. If it was up to me, we would go New Zealand for new coins, a plated steel 5 cent(possibly), 10 cent, 20 cent, and fifty cent that are easily used and are readily used by the blind and teh difference can be felt by anyone fondling them in a pocket. I think that the dollar coins starting with the presidentials are a joke, no one cares about some dead guy they never heard of and I don’t care that liberty is gone and that In God We Trust and E Pluribus Unum are on the edge. I would much rather see artistic depictions of liberty and our bills increasing with size and able to be used by the blind and a different person and security features on each bill every ten to fifteen years.
I know a man who has a Sacagawea Dollar coin received with an order for 2008 coins, but this one does not have a date…what is the value of this coin??
Jackson, tell your friend to check the edge of the coin for the date. The Mint changed the design of the Sacagawea Dollar starting in 2009, which included moving the date from the face of the coin to the edge.
If the Sacagawea Dollar your friend has is missing the date on both the faces and the edge, post another comment here and we’ll take it to the next step.
Many people are overlooking the edge lettering on these coins because they never had it before.
Susan Headley
About.com Guide to Coins
Hello, I have a 2009 S sacagawea dollar proof coin from the u.s. mint silver set, the sacagawea coin has the letter W impressed to the immediate left of the babies head. Has anyone seen this error before??