Native American Dollar $1 MS [Type]

Designers: Obverse: Glenna Goodacre; Reverse: See image captions for reverse designers. Weight: 8.1 grams. Composition: Pure copper core with outer layers of manganese brass (.770 copper, .120 zinc, .070 manganese, and .040 nickel). Diameter: 26.5 mm. Edge: Lettered. Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, West Point.

Key to Collecting: Since 2009, the reverse of the golden dollar has featured an annually changing design that memorializes Native Americans and, in the words of the authorizing legislation, “the important contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the development [and history] of the United States.” The coins are marked (incuse) on their edges with the year of minting, the mintmark, and the legend E PLURIBUS UNUM. The Native American $1 Coin Act also specified that at least 20% of the total mintage of dollar coins in any given year (including Presidential dollars) will be Native American dollars. Production of all dollar coins minted after 2011 has been limited to numismatic sales (Proofs and other collector formats, and circulation strikes in rolls and bags available directly from the U.S. Mint); none are issued for circulation, as they have proven unpopular in commerce.

The obverse of the Native American dollar coin is a modified version of the Sacagawea dollar, featuring that coin’s central portraits (of Sacagawea and Jean Baptiste), and the legends LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. The date and mintmark, as noted above, are on the coin’s edge. Each new reverse design is chosen by the secretary of the Treasury following consultation with the Senate Committee on Indian A!airs, the Congressional Native American Caucus of the House of Representatives, the Commission of Fine Arts, the National Congress of American Indians, and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

In addition to the regular Uncirculated or Mint State coins produced in large quantities, smaller numbers of Satin Finish dollars were made of the 2009-P, 2009-D, 2010-P, and 2010-D issues. Sold at an additional premium, most of these exist today in grades of MS-67 and upward and are designated SP (Specimen) or SMS (Special Mint Set) by the commercial grading services. 50,000 2014-D coins were made with Enhanced Uncirculated finish and were sold at an extra premium. Most of these grade MS–68 to 70. In 2015 at the West Point Mint 90,000 2015-W dollars were struck with Enhanced Uncirculated finish. These are unique up to this time as the only collectible West Point dollars in any of the three “golden dollar” series (Sacagawea, Native American, and Presidential). Nearly all are in grades MS–68 to 70.

Some error coins have been discovered without edge lettering.

Native American dollars are common in high grades, being struck in the millions annually, and are usually collected in MS and Proof.

These coins are studied in depth in the Red Book Series: Modern United States Dollar Coins (Whitman).

Aspects of Striking and Appearance: Most examples are very well struck. Check the higher points of the design. Special issues are uniformly sharply struck.

Proof Coins: Proofs have been made each year and are readily available.