Native American Dollars

The Citizens Coin Advisory Committee (CCAC) reacted favorably to the US Mint’s intended design theme for the upcoming 2009 Native American Dollar. The proposed theme highlights agriculature as a major Native American contribution that helped European colonist survive.

A one page statement from the Mint noted the contributions of crop rotation, seed development, and irrigation methods. Also mentioned was the “symbiotic Three Sister agriculture” by which corn, beans, and squash were grown in the same mound.

The first designs using the agriculture theme are expected to be shown to the CCAC in June.

The Native American Dollar series will feature rotating reverse designs that are changed annually. The first eight reverses will depict Native American contributions in chronological order. The authorizing legislation for the program provided suggestions for themes to be included as reverse designs.

The Mint is also required to further consult withthe Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives Congressional Native American Caucus, Commission of Fine Arts, and National Congress of American Indians regarding design choices.

In 2009, the Native American Dollar Coin Program will begin. The obverse of the coins will feature the Sacagawea design first used in 2000. The reverse of the coins will feature a new design each year, celebrating important figures and events from Native American history.

H.R. 2358 The Native American $1 Coin Act included several suggestions for reverse designs:

• Creation of the Cherokee written language
• Existence of the Iroquois Confederacy
• Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag
• The Pueblo Revolt
• Olympic Champion Jim Thorpe
• General Ely S. Parker, Head of Indian Affairs
• Navajo Code Talkers

Until the end of the Presidential Dollar Program, the reverse designs of Native American Dollars will be issued in chronological order of the figures and events featured, to the extent possible. The US Mint will create a timeline of events until at least 2016 to be used for the creation of coin designs.

During the design evaluation process, The United States Mint will consult with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives Congressional Native American Caucus, Commission of Fine Arts, National Congress of American Indians, and Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC).

The Secretary of the Treasury will select the final designs to be minted and issued.

On September 20, 2007, The Native American $1 Coin Act H.R. 2358 was signed into law. The Act provides for a new series of dollar coins celebrating contributions made by Indian Tribes and important Native Americans.

The Native American Dollar Coin Program will begin in 2009 and run silmuntaneously with the Presidential Dollar Coin Program.

The Native American Dollars will feature Sacagawea on the obverse of the coin and important figures and events from Native American history on the reverse. The reverse designs will be changed once per year and begin to be issued in 2009.

The new coins will also included edge-incused text, which is currently used on the Presidential Dollar Coins. The edge lettering will include the year, mint mark, and “E Pluribus Unum.” The motto “In God We Trust” will be featured on the obverse of the coins.

The Act also provides that the new Native American Dollars will comprise at least 20% of the total mintage of all dollar coins. The Secretary of the Treasury is also encouraged to carry out an “aggressive, cost-effective continuing campaign” to encourage businesses to accept and dispense the new $1 coins.