The United States Mint this week updated its product page for the 2017 Native American $1 Coin, providing an image of one and information about its release. Introduced in 2009, the series of dollars features annually changing reverses.
Circulating quality versions of the new coin launch next Wednesday, Jan. 25, in 25-coin rolls, 100-coin bags and 250-coin boxes. Options include dollars from minting facilities in Denver or Philadelphia at prices of $32.95; $111.95; and $275.95.
$1 coins are no longer released into circulation. Buying them from the U.S. Mint is the only way to get them directly.
The U.S. Mint previously unveiled this year’s new design. It was selected from among 13 candidates and features a likeness of Sequoyah, the inventor of characters for reading and writing the Cherokee language. He appears writing "Sequoyah from Cherokee Nation" in syllabary along the border of the design. Chris Costello designed the image and Charles L. Vickers sculpted it.
Obverses or heads sides of Native American $1 Coins are the same each year. They share Glenna Goodacre’s portrait of Sacagawea. The familiar image has been around since the Sacagawea golden dollar debuted in 2000.
The U.S. Mint’s online page for the upcoming dollar products is right here. They have no mintage or household order limits.
Authorized under Public Law 110-82, the Native American $1 Coin Program celebrates the important contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the history and development of the United States.
Next year’s dollar design will depict Jim Thorpe. Designs for the following 2019 and 2020 dollars are already being discussed. The 2019 dollar will celebrate the involvement of Native Americans in the United States space program and the 2020 dollar will honor Elizabeth Peratrovich and Alaska’s 1945 anti-discrimination law. CoinNews will cover the CCAC discussion of the 2019-2020 themes in an upcoming article.
I like this design and I will continue to buy them in NA $1 C&C sets. And I hope the Mint selects CFA’s recommendation of the Jim Thorpe design .. I like that it represents all three aspects of his athletic career … unlike the CCAC which only shows football …
I too am impressed with the reverse design. Imagine what our change might look like if the Mint encouraged that level of artistry on circulating coinage.
I think this may be the first US Mint coin with words written in the syllabary (alphabet) of another sovereign natiion’s language.
-NumisDudeTX
Seth That’s an interesting bit of information. I have always liked the Sacagawea and now Native American Coin series. And I hope they continue the enhanced uncirculated coins in the American $1 Coin and Currency Sets along with the low serial number which added a new appeal to the set last year. It would be great if they had a gold version. Kind of like they did with some of the first Sacagawea coins. Which, if I remember right, only 39 coins were minted in 22-karat, were never available to the public, were in outer space, were to be displayed… Read more »
joera – I agree that the American $1 C&C sets are great! I hope they continue the Enhanced Uncirculated versions in these sets in the future. There were 39 of the 2000-W Proof .9167 fine 22k gold coins struck in 1999. The Mint was planning on striking more to sell to the public but didn’t. They picked the 12 coins in best condition & melted the other 27. The 12 specimens then went in space on the shuttle. Upon return they were locked away at the Ft. Knox Bullion Depository run by the US Mint where they still are being… Read more »
@Seth Riesling
“…They should be sent to the Smithsonian Institution for inclusion in their National Numismatic Collection & at least put one on permanent display IMHO…”
Totally agree .. and having a changing reverse on a yearly basis along with the C&C set is what keeps me interested in this Mint product. I might also get the regular proof and unc versions for the Jim Thorpe if the Mint selects the CFA’s preferred design.
Tinto –
You are so right about the changing reverse designs each year on this $1 coin series. It keeps it exciting & different. And each year I learn some fact about Native American Indian tribes I didn’t know before. I hope this series continues for a long time.
-NumisDudeTX
Seth Thanks for the information once again. I wasn’t sure how it all went. I went and Googled it after my comment and saw everything you said. I should use Google more often before I post somethings. Anyway you learn and live. Here’s to a great 2017 to you! I hope you are able to get all the coins your heart desires. Or what your budget let’s you get. Which is how I have to choose what I can get. That and what my beautiful wife lets me get. My favorite line to her is, “I’m not spending money. I’m… Read more »
joera –
I remember way back when the Mint struck the .9167 fine gold Sacagawea $1 coins in 1999 without permission of Congress & they said it was just for a publicity stunt to send them into space to introduce the new $1 coin the next year. They are rascals sometimes!
I am surprised they still don’t list them in the “Red Book”.
Happy collecting in 2017!
-NumisDudeTX
@Seth Riesling
I saw the HSN coin show yesterday and he had some trial strikes for the Sac with Martha Washington as the subject graded by NGC … that was the only interesting thing I saw
Seth Yea I read that about the mint doing the gold Sacagawea without permission. If it would have been any other mint they would have been in all kinds of trouble. Kind of funny how the government does or does not do some things. I’m not sure but maybe the gold Sacagawea are not in the Red Book because they have not been available to the general public for sale. If they were available the price of those 12 coins would have a lot of 0s at the end of the price. I mean in the mid to high 6… Read more »
joera –
I agree. The “Red Book” can’t list everything or it would be as big as a phone book! Even their coinage patterns & experimental trial strikes section is just a few pages long. I agree with you that if one of these ever sells at a govt auction it probably would bring close to $1 million. What is the govt going to do with these 12 gold ones? They should share them with some museum like the Smithsonian & sell at least one coin for a private collector to own & hopefully display in an exhibit.
-NumisDudeTX