Article Published: August 13, 2023 | Article Updated: August 13, 2023
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2000 Sacagawea Dollar Introduction
The Sacagawea Dollar was first released in the year 2000. It was dubbed the “Golden Dollar” by many, but it doesn’t actually have any gold metal in the coins composition. The Sacagawea dollar replaced the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which was produced from 1979 to 1981 and was again produced in 1999.
In this article we will go into the Sacagawea Dollar History, Sacagawea’s History, Sacagawea Coin Facts, Sacagawea Dollar Value and some unique Sacagawea Errors that are worth a ton of money!
Sacagawea Dollar History
With the eminent end of the Susan B. Anthony dollar from circulation, the Coin Act of 1997 called for a design competition to be held.
As part of the 50 State Quarters initiative, Law PL105-124, signed by President Clinton on Dec. 1, 1997 required the mint to produce a One Dollar Coin that was Golden in Color.
The new law was specific:
“The dollar coin shall be golden in color, have a distinctive edge, have tactile and visual features that make the denomination of the coin readily discernible, be minted and fabricated in the United States, and have similar metallic, anti-counterfeiting properties as United States coinage in circulation on the date of enactment of the United States $1 Coin Act of 1997.” It also stated forthrightly that “Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to evidence any intention to eliminate or to limit the printing or circulation of United States currency in the $1 denomination.”
From there, the public was encouraged to submit design ideas. Ultimately, we know who the winner was – Glenna Goodacre. With that, the Sacagawea Dollar was created.
Who Was Sacagawea and Why is Sacagawea on a coin?
Sacagawea was a Shoshone Indian that was hired by Lewis and Clark, by way of her husband, at the young age of 15 years old. From 1804 to 1806 Sacagawea guided Lewis and Clark from the northern great plans to the Pacific Ocean and back. At the time, she was 6 months pregnant with her son Jean Baptiste.
Sacagawea had a difficult beginning, at the age of 11 she was captured by a Hidatsa raiding party and was taken from her Shoshone tribe. She was then sold in to slavery to the Missouri River Mandans and they later sold her (or gave her away in a lost bet) to Toussaint Charbonneau, whom was a French-Canadian fur trader and she was later made his wife.
Sacagawea and The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Charbonneau, Sacagawea’s husband, was hired by Lewis and Clark due to Sacagawea’s skills. Sacagawea spoke several Indian languages and could help Lewis and Clark make contact with her people which helped significantly on their Journey. Others tribes treated them with curiosity, rather than aggression.
In addition, Sacagawea provided critical knowledge of the topography of this rugged region of North America. She was able to teach the explorers how to find edible roots and plants that the European-Americans would not have known about. Sacagawea, with her son on her back, was able to rescue Clark’s journals from the Missouri river when their boat capsized. It’s a good thing she saved them, or the Lewis and Clark expedition may have been lost forever.
Most importantly, Sacagawea, was seen as a “white flag” of peace. She was able to enter hostile territory and seek peace and discussion, often acting as the translator. During Lewis and Clarks expedition there was not a single member of their party lost to a hostile action.
Sacagawea’s Life After the Expedition
Sacagawea far exceeded Lewis and Clarks expectations and they were forever indebted to her. Year’s later, Clark accepted the responsibility for educating Sacagawea’s son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, and after Sacagawea’s death at the age of 25 years old Clark would also educate Sacagawea’s daughter, Lizette Charbonneau. Sacagawea’s grave is located in Lander Wyoming.
2000 Sacagawea Dollar Coin Facts
The U.S. Mint issued the Sacagawea Golden Dollar from 2000 to 2008. It was the first dollar made with an outer layer of manganese brass, giving it a golden color. The obverse design features Sacagawea and the reverse depicts a soaring eagle. In 2009, the dollar transitioned to the Native American $1 Coin Program using the Sacagawea obverse paired with different reverse designs each year.
Sacagawea Obverse Design
The head of the coin, or the Obverse, shows portrays Sacagawea in a three-quarter profile. In a departure from numismatic tradition, she is looking straight at you. Glenna Goodacre, the obverse designer, used a present-day Shoshone college student, Randy’L He-dow Teton as her model for the Sacagawea Dollar. She included the large, dark eyes that are attributed to the Shoshone legends of Sacagawea.
Sacagawea carries her son, Jean Baptiste on her back, whom she gave birth to early on in the expedition.
Obverse Inscriptions
- LIBERTY
- IN GOD WE TRUST
- Year
Sacagawea Reverse Design
The reverse of the Sacagawea dollar was designed to compliment the obverse of the coin. The reverse features a soaring eagle that is encircled by 17 stars. The 17 stars represent the 17 states that were in the Union at the time of the 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition.
Reverse Inscriptions
- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- E PLURIBUS UNUM
- ONE DOLLAR
| Current Circulated Value: | $1.00 – $2.00 |
| Weight: | 8.1 grams |
| Diameter: | 26.5 mm |
| Thickness: | 2 mm |
| Edge: | Smooth Edge, Extra Wide Border |
| Composition: | 88.5% Copper, 3% Zinc, 3.5% Manganese, 2% Nickel |
| Years Minted: | 2000-2008 |
| Design Date: | 1999 |
| Obverse Designer: | Glenna Goodacre |
| Reverse Designer: | Thomas Rogers |
2000 Sacagawea Dollar Mintages
The 2000-P Sacagawea Dollar is very common. Although, there are several mint errors that make them valuable. There were over 1.29 Billion Sacagawea Dollars minted in 2000. The San Francisco mint produced the least amount, with just over 4 Million minted.
The Sacagawea Dollars that were minted at the Philadelphia and Denver mints, were both business circulated coins. While the Sacagawea Dollars minted at San Francisco were only available as a proof coin.
2000-P Sacagawea Dollar Value
A typical circulated Sacagawea Dollar from the Philadelphia Mint is worth about $1.00-$2.00. If you have one that is a high mint state grade the price can increase to several hundred dollars. A Sacagawea Dollar Mint State 68 typically sells for $20-$50 USD. While a Mint State 69 can fetch $100-$400.
2000 Sacagawea Dollar Mint Errors
There are several 2000 Sacagawea Dollars with Mint Errors that you should be on the look out for. Some of them can be worth a boat load of money!!!
2000-P Sacagawea Wounded Eagle Dollar Value – Mint Error
The Sacagawea Wounded Eagle Dollar is a well known Sacagawea Mint Error. The reverse of this mint error has what looks like a spear going through the eagles breast. This raised die gouge happens when a die gets scraped by another object (usually metal) and creates a scratch in the die. Then during the pressing process the planchet fills into the die during the minting process. Leaving a raised impression on the coin.
The Sacagawea Wounded Eagle typically sells for $150 to $400 in lower grades while higher grades can go for $600 to $1,000.
2000-P Sacagawea Muled Dollar Value – Mint Error
The Sacagawea Muled Dollar is one of the easiest mint errors to find and it’s worth an incredible amount of money! Simply put, the Muled Sacagawea Dollar has a State Quarter Obverse and a regular Sacagawea Dollar Reverse. The planchet size and composition are correct for the Sacagawea dollar but the obverse die was that of a state quarter.
These can be worth $40,000+ depending on the grade. The highest price sale was $192,000!!!
2000-P Sacagawea Cheerios Dollar Value – Mint Error
The 2000-P Sacagawea Cheerios Dollar is one of the most intriguing Pattern Coins of modern numismatics. It’s a pattern coin because all 5,500 that were minted were all minted from the exact same dies, which were different from the business strike 2000-P Sacagawea Dollar coins that were for regular circulation.
These are typically worth $2,000-$4,000 but depending on condition, these can go for a LOT of money!
Check out the below video for the complete story and Sacagawea Cheerios Dollar Value!
