New US Coin Series Featuring Native Americans
Michael Zielinski
December 10, 2008
Next year a new dollar coin will start to circulate. It's not another release for the Presidential Dollar series, but a new separate series launched by the United States Mint to honor the contributions of Native Americans.
The new coins will be known as Native American Dollars. The series was authorized under H.R. 2358, The Native American $1 Coin Act signed on September 20, 2007. The coins will be the same size and composition of the Presidential Dollar coins and have the same distinctive golden color.
Each year the dollar coins will feature a new reverse design celebrating the contributions and history of Native Americans. The recently unveiled design for 2009 features a Native American woman planting seeds in a field of corn, beans, and squash. This is representative of the Three Sisters Method of planting. This reverse design was sculpted by U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Norman E. Nemeth.
A new Native American Dollar reverse design will be issued each year. To the extent possible, the historical events and persons featured on the coins will appear in chronological order. The program is currently slated to run for at least eleven years.
The obverse design of each coin will continue to use the rendition of Sacagawea designed by Glenna Goodacre. There will be one modification. The date and mint mark, previously appearing to the right of Sacagawea, will be moved to the edge of the coin. The motto "E Pluribus Unum" will also appear on the edge. This follows the format of the incused edge lettering used on Presidential Dollar coins.
The Native American Dollars will co-circulate with the Presidential Dollars, making a total of five different dollar coins released each year. According to the authorizing legislation, at least 20% of the total dollar coins produced each year must be Native American Dollars. The first coins should begin to reach circulation in 2009.
Find the latest news and information on the Native American Dollar. Interested in coins? Join the new coin collecting social network Coin Network.
The new coins will be known as Native American Dollars. The series was authorized under H.R. 2358, The Native American $1 Coin Act signed on September 20, 2007. The coins will be the same size and composition of the Presidential Dollar coins and have the same distinctive golden color.
Each year the dollar coins will feature a new reverse design celebrating the contributions and history of Native Americans. The recently unveiled design for 2009 features a Native American woman planting seeds in a field of corn, beans, and squash. This is representative of the Three Sisters Method of planting. This reverse design was sculpted by U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Norman E. Nemeth.
A new Native American Dollar reverse design will be issued each year. To the extent possible, the historical events and persons featured on the coins will appear in chronological order. The program is currently slated to run for at least eleven years.
The obverse design of each coin will continue to use the rendition of Sacagawea designed by Glenna Goodacre. There will be one modification. The date and mint mark, previously appearing to the right of Sacagawea, will be moved to the edge of the coin. The motto "E Pluribus Unum" will also appear on the edge. This follows the format of the incused edge lettering used on Presidential Dollar coins.
The Native American Dollars will co-circulate with the Presidential Dollars, making a total of five different dollar coins released each year. According to the authorizing legislation, at least 20% of the total dollar coins produced each year must be Native American Dollars. The first coins should begin to reach circulation in 2009.
Find the latest news and information on the Native American Dollar. Interested in coins? Join the new coin collecting social network Coin Network.