The reverse side was designed by
Thomas D. Rogers .
Originally, since there was no known portrait of Sacagawea, the committee that chose Sacagawea for the coin specified the figure as
Liberty depicted as a
Native American woman inspired by Sacagawea. This also helped sell the coin to committee members that preferred the traditional Liberty of older U.S. coins, especially since the
Indian Head Cent had also depicted Liberty as a Native American. However, the "Liberty" part of the concept faded during the design competition, as the most suitable designs (including Goodacre's winning design) focused on the story of Sacagawea.
Sacagawea dollars began being minted in 2000 in accordance with the
United States $1 Coin Act Of 1997 . These coins were made to replace the unpopular
Susan B. Anthony Dollar coins which were often confused with
Quarters because of their similar size, similar ridged edge, and identical color. To remedy this problem, Sacagawea dollars were given a smooth outside edge (similar to the
Nickel ) and distinctive gold color which made it the only gold-colored coin in the United States that was circulating at the time. Despite a major promotional blitz by the United States government, these coins failed to gain popularity with the general public, and mintages of the coins declined sharply after the first year, just as mintages of the Susan B. Anthony dollar had done 21 years earlier.
Although they were released for general circulation only in 2000, 2001, and 2006, Sacagawea dollars are still being minted on a small scale for collectors and are available in uncirculated coin rolls,
Mint Sets ,
Proof Sets , and Special Westward Journey Sets from the
United States Mint . The coins are widely available in
New York City , where the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority , the state agency that runs the New York City Transit System
Subways and
Bus es, uses the coin in their
MetroCard Vending Machines for change up to six
Dollars .
posing in front of the Sacagawea Dollar.]]
Congress responded by including in the $1 Coin Act (Public Law 105-124) a provision that:
Nonetheless, nothing in that section (or in any other law) prohibits the Federal Reserve System from phasing out the paper dollar in the future.
In
2000 , the
General Accounting Office estimated that "the $1 coin's advantage would be $522.2 million per year, once fully implemented".
4
The GAO noted that in order for a dollar coin to be successful, the $1 note would have to be eliminated; a reasonable transition period would be needed; the $1 coin would have to be well designed and readily distinguishable from other coins; an adequate public awareness campaign would be needed; and sustained administrative and congressional support would be necessary to withstand an initial negative public reaction to eliminating the $1 note.
James C. Benfield, executive director of the
Coin Coalition , commented on the reasons for why the Sacagawea dollar never became widely circulated. He denied that it was due to the public hoarding the coins, noting that the public also collects large quantities of
Statehood Quarters , yet Statehood Quarters remain in wide circulation. Benfield claimed that banks could not be faulted, since few people get coins from the bank, except for rolls of quarters to feed
Parking Meter s or coin-operated
Laundry Machine s. Moreover, he denied that it was due to public rejection of the Sacagawea, explaining, "The key players in the circulation of any denomination are the store managers of
Chain Restaurant s,
Drugstore s,
Grocery Store s and
Convenience Store s. All coins, and $1 and $5 bills, begin circulating in the economy from the cash drawers of these establishments. If the store manager doesn't stock $1 coins in the morning, then you won't get them as change in the afternoon."
Benfield also pinned down the root cause of the Sacagawea's failure: "The chief stumbling-block to the success of the 'golden dollar' is the continued presence of the $1 bill. The lesson demonstrated by our SBA experience, and learned by all countries that have introduced a high-denomination coin since 1979, is that the equivalent note must be removed from circulation. The only country not to learn that lesson is the United States."
Though the
Presidential $1 Coin Act Of 2005 authorized a new dollar coin program featuring the
Presidents Of The United States , it also assures, for now, the future of the Sacagawea dollar. At least one-quarter of the dollar coins issued in each year of the program must be Sacagawea dollars.
31 USC ยง 5112 (n)(B)(ii):
)
Furthermore, the Sacagawea design is required to continue after the program ends. These requirements were added at the behest of the
North Dakota congressional delegation to ensure that Sacagawea, whom North Dakotans consider to be one of their own, ultimately remains on the dollar coin.
Conversely, however, if the presidential coin program and other provisions of the Presidential $1 Coin Act (such as the requirement that Federal agencies and other entities under Federal jurisdiction accept dollar coins by 2008) do generate demand for dollar coins in circulation, the one-third requirement would likely lead to improved circulation for the Sacagawea dollar as well.
Although not widespread in the United States, the Sacagawea dollar is very popular in
Ecuador and other foreign countries that have made the US dollar their currency. Since
Dollarization , an estimated 500 million coins, approximately half of those minted, have been used in Ecuador,
El Salvador , and other
Latin America n countries."Ecuador's Bittersweet Pill," by Rick Young. October 19, 2006, Frontline World.
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In
2001 , ''
Coin World '' reported the revelation (via a
FOIA document request) that the Mint had struck 39 examples of the 2000 Sacagawea dollar in gold in June 1999 at the West Point Mint. The
Planchet s came from specially prepared oz. $25
American Gold Eagle Bullion Planchets. Why they were struck is not known; speculation is that this was an attempt by the mint to offer "Premium" collectibles in conjunction with the newly released Sacagawea dollar in 2000.
Twenty-seven were soon melted and the remaining 12 were on board
Space Shuttle Columbia for the July 1999
STS-93 mission. Two examples then popped up at two separate events; one during a Private Congressional Dinner in August 1999, and another example at the Official First-Strike ceremonies in November. The coins remained at Mint Headquarters under lock and key until they were transferred in 2001 to
Fort Knox . The strikes are considered to be illegal due to the Coinage regulations in place.
- Edler, Joel and Harper, Dave ''U.S. Coin Digest'' Iola: Krause Publications, 2004
- Yeoman, R.S. ''A Guide Book of United States Coins'' Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2004.
