Native American Golden Dollars
The word “dollar” comes from the German word “Thaler,” a large silver German coin. The dollar was one of the first silver coins made, in 1794. Since then the dollar coin has been minted periodically with different versions of Liberty and other individuals on the obverse, including those of President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1971-1978), suffragist Susan B. Anthony (1979-1981, 1999), and Sacagawea in 2000.
In 2000, the United States Mint released the Sacagawea Golden Dollar, which featured a portrait of Sacagawea carrying her infant son, Jean-Baptiste on the obverse (heads side) and an eagle on the reverse (tails side), under the United States $1 Coin Act of 1997.
In 2009, the United States Mint began minting and issuing $1 coins featuring designs celebrating the important contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the history and development of the United States. The Native American $1 Coin Program is authorized by the Native American $1 Coin Act.
Native American $1 coins are produced as collectibles, not for everyday transactions. However, they may be still used as legal tender.
