From Orbit to Auction: Space Flown Gold Pattern Dollars Realize $3.28 Million in Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ Auction

A selection of rare and historic gold dollar coins soared to more than $3.28 million in a special Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction held on Friday, September 12, presented on behalf of the United States Mint. Featured were a group of seven Judd-2190 pattern 2000-W Sacagawea Dollars produced in 22-karat gold, which traveled nearly 2 million miles in orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1999, which was the first shuttle flight to be commanded by a woman, USAF Col. (ret.) Eileen Collins.

Lot 10006 and lot 10007 each sold for an astonishing $550,000 and set many new records across several categories. These are tied as the most valuable U.S. gold dollars struck since the Civil War and the most valuable space flown federal coins sold at auction. They also tower over 20th-century numismatics, ranking as the valuable post-1933 gold coins of any denomination and the most value modern proof coins. They are the most valuable Sacagawea Dollars ever sold, even surpassing records for the rare Sacagawea Quarter mule errors and the famous “Cheerios” variety. Additionally, they are the most valuable coin of any denomination with a “W” mintmark (for West Point). These record results represent more than 300 times the gold bullion value at the time of the sale.

Also featured in the special auction was the very first struck 2025-W Sacagawea Dollar in 24-karat gold, produced to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the series. This #1 struck coin sold for an incredible $120,000, confirming its status as one of the most important Sacagawea dollars struck in the 21st century. This price was more than 60 times the gold bullion value and more than 50 times the original issue price for the regular coins distributed by the United States Mint.

Remarkably, this record sale represents the fourth time Stack’s Bowers Galleries has been selected by the United States Mint for a special auction, following their $7.5 million sale of the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle in July 2002, their $4.6 million sale of 35th Anniversary American Eagle coins in September 2022, and their $8.2 million sale of 230th Anniversary Flowing Hair coins in December 2024. No other firm in the world, specialized or generalist, boasts a repetitive seal of approval from the U.S. Mint.

For more information about the Stack’s Bowers Galleries $3.28 million sale of Space Flown 22-Karat gold and 25th Anniversary 24 Karat gold Sacagawea Dollars, or to consign your coins to an upcoming sale, contact the firm by calling 800-458-4646 or by emailing [email protected].

A bout Stack's Bowers Galleries

Stack's Bowers Galleries conducts live, internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company's 90+ year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Joel R. Anderson Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection, The Sydney F. Martin Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few.

World coin and currency collections include The Pinnacle Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Salton Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, the Augustana Collection of gold rarities from across western Europe, the Richard Margolis Collection of world coins and medals and The Thos. H. Law Collection. Recently the firm was awarded the privilege of bringing the most valuable world coin collection to auction – the L. E. Bruun Collection.

The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, with galleries in New York, Boston, Miami, and Philadelphia. Offices are also located in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Sacramento, Virginia, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Paris and Vancouver. Stack's Bowers Galleries hosts an annual Global Showcase in August featuring United States coins and currency, ancient coins and world coins and currency in its Costa Mesa auction gallery. They are also the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic events, including the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, the Spring and Fall Hong Kong shows, and the Maastricht Paper Money shows.