2000-D SAC$1 MS68 Certification #15549773, PCGS #9585

Type: Sacagawea Dollar (2000-2008) Designer: Glenna Goodacre / Thomas D. Rogers Sr. Content: 88.5% Copper, 6% Zinc, 3.5% Manganese and 2% Nickel Weight: 8.10 grams Diameter: 26.50 millimeters Edge: Plain Mint: Denver Production Strikes: 518,916,000 General Type Description: The Coinage Act of 1997 called for a new dollar coin of the same size and weight as the Susan B. Anthony dollar, but with a golden color and a plain edge. After a national competition, a new design was chosen featuring a portrait of the Shoshone Indian, Sacagawea, carrying her infant son, Jean-Baptiste. The coin was heavily promoted and nearly three-quarters of a billion Sacagawea dollars were struck for circulation. After an initial wave of enthusiasm, demand for the dollar coins dropped and mintages fell to 5-6 million coins per year from 2002 on. Despite intense marketing efforts, Sacagawea dollars are seldom seen outside of collecting circles and are mostly viewed as curiosities or annoyances by the general public. 39 Proof 2000-W Sacagawea Dollar coins were struck in 22 Karat gold at the West Point Mint in June 1999. 27 were melted and the remaining dozen examples were sent to space aboard the space shuttle Columbia, returning to earth five days later on July 22, 1999. Thereafter, the coins were stored in a vault at the Mint Headquarters in Washington, DC. Sometime in August or September 2001, the dozen Proofs were sent to the Gold Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky. The dies for the Gold Proofs were prepared with Thomas D. Rogers, Sr.'s original reverse design featuring 12 tail feathers. Circulation strikes from other mints have 13 tail feathers. 5,500 Sacagawea dollars were placed in random boxes of Cheerios cereal as a means to promote the new coin. Unfortunately, collectors did not discover until years later that these were special coins featuring the prototype reverse with 12 tail feathers on the reverse. These have proven to be great rarities and are easily the most valuable coins in the series. (Source: Guth, Ron. PCGS CoinFacts) Specific Issue Description: This is the first year in which the Denver Mint issued Sacagawea Dollars for circulation. This also happens to be the second highest mintage for the Sacagawea Dollar circulation strike series. Initially, the Mint expected a huge demand for the new one dollar coins and the Mint produced them by the hundreds of millions. After the first year, the Mint realized the coins were not as popular as they originally expected. Consequently, in the years following, the mintages were drastically reduced and from 2004 through 2008, the mintages were all under 4 million for each year and from each Mint. The 2000-D Sacagawea Dollar is abundant due to its very high mintage. It is only somewhat scarce in MS67 condition and higher. (Source: Hernandez, Jaime. PCGS CoinFacts) Exemplar Description: Acquired 10/2010 from Michael Sulinski, Tazmic Enterprises.

Jaime Hernandez

This is the first year in which the Denver Mint issued Sacagawea Dollars for circulation. This also happens to be the second highest mintage for the Sacagawea Dollar circulation strike series. The only highest mintage coin is the 2000-P.

Initially, the Mint expected a huge demand for the new one dollar coins and the Mint produced them by the hundreds of millions. After the first year, the Mint realized the coins were not as popular as they originally expected.

 

Consequently, the following year the mintages were drastically reduced from hundreds of millions to tens of millions. By the third year or in 2003 the mintages decreased even more. From 2004 through 2008, the mintages were now all under 4 million for each year and from each Mint.

 

The 2000-D Sacagawea Dollar is abundant due to its very high mintage. It is only somewhat scarce in MS67 condition and higher.