Owner Comments:
This NGC 2000-S PF70 UCAM is an excellent example. Because of the golden color of the coin, I think the Proof versions are simply stunning. Sacagawea Golden US Dollar Series is one of my all-time favorite coins series, second only to the Peace Dollar Series.
BACK GROUND – SACAGAWEA DOLLAR
The Sacagawea Golden Dollar was authorized as part of the “50 STATES COMMEMORATIVE COIN PROGRAM ACT” Public Law 105-124 on Dec. 1, 1997 and is also known as the “United States $1 Coin Act of 1997”. The One $1 Dollar Coin Act was driven by the desire of the U.S. Treasury and Congress to replace the One Dollar bill with a $1 coin. Due to the failure of the Susan B. Anthony $1 Dollar Coin, the legislation required that the new coin be “Golden” in color to help avoid confusion with the Washington Quarter due to the similar size and color. In addition to the Golden color, the legislation required that the coin would have an authentic Native American depiction so not to repeat other U.S. Native American coins of the 1800’s and early 1900’s.
In June 1998, the Dollar Coin Design Advisory Committee (DCDAC) led by none-voting chair U.S. Mint Director Philip N. Diehl convened in Philadelphia. There they listened to 17 design concept presentations from members of the public, as well as to numerous messages submitted by the public. Based on this input DCDAC recommended that the dollar coin bear the image of Sacagawea.
The U.S. Mint invited 23 artists to submit designs with an image of Sacagawea for the obverse and complimentary reverse eagle designs reflecting peace and freedom. Using public comments as a guide, the Mint narrowed the designs to seven and submitted them to the Commission of Fine Arts in December 1998. The Commission of Fine Arts provided its recommendation to the Mint. After much review of all the input received, the Mint presented the final designs to the Secretary of the Treasury. On May 4, 1999, the Mint unveiled the selected obverse design by sculptor Glenna Goodacre at the White House. The selected reverse design shows an Eagle in flight and was designed by U.S. Mint engraver Thomas D. Rogers Sr.
DESIGNERS
Glenna Goodacre was an American sculptor, (August 28, 1939 – April 13, 2020), best known for having designed the obverse of the Sacagawea dollar, the Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C. and "After the Ride," a seven-foot high statue of President Ronald Reagan. Her career spanned nearly five decades, was well-known for her bronze sculptures, specializing in sensitive portraits of children in action and of Native American Indians, including the New Mexico Pueblo Indians exemplified by her depiction of a sacred ceremony, The Basket Dance.
Thomas D. Rogers Sr. is a former sculptor-engraver with the U.S. Mint and designer of several U.S. coins in addition to the reverse of the Sacagawea Dollar. Rogers design credits include four State Quarter reverses, American Platinum Eagle reverse and the 2016 Native American Dollar “Code Talkers” reverse to name a few.
The Design
The obverse design of Sacagawea is portrayed in three-quarter profile. This is a departure from numismatic tradition, as Sacagawea looks straight at the holder. Goodacre included the large, dark eyes attributed to Sacagawea of Shoshone legends. As her model at the time, she used a present-day Shoshone college student, Randy'L He-dow Teton who is the only living model of a current US Coin. On her back, Sacagawea carries Jean Baptiste, her infant son. Six months pregnant when she joined the Lewis and Clark expedition, Sacagawea gave birth to Jean Baptiste early in the journey.
To complement the obverse, the reverse design depicts a soaring Eagle in flight encircled by 17 stars. The 17 stars represent each state in the Union at the time of the 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition.