Sacagawea Dollar Anniversary

In recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Sacagawea dollar, the U.S. Mint produced a 24-karat gold version dated 2025-W. The entire 7,500 mintage sold out soon after the piece went on sale on July 31. On the secondary market, the coins cost up to $2,850—nearly $700 more than the initial retail price. Prices are expected to continue climbing.

The 2025-W issues pay tribute to the 22-karat gold Sacagawea dollars that the mint failed to sell in 1999. The coining facility initially produced 39 of these dollars in June 1999, with the 12 best examples flying aboard the space shuttle Columbia on July 23 of that year. The mint intended to distribute the “space dollars” to museums and make and sell numismatic versions of the golden dollar. Criticism about the coins’ unauthorized status caused the mint to abandon the plan. The 12 coins from the Columbia were later exhibited at the 2007 ANA World’s Fair of Money® in Milwaukee, and then-Mint Director Ed Moy displayed the coins in his office afterward.

The History of the Sacagawea Dollar

Introduced in 2000, the regular Sacagawea dollar (made of a manganese-brass alloy) was intended to revitalize the use of dollar coins in everyday transactions; however, the coin fell short of achieving this goal. The public continued to prefer using $1 bills, though the Sacagawea dollar did generate excitement among collectors. As a result, annual issues are still sold in mint sets, proof sets, and bags and rolls, with the reverse design updated each year to celebrate the contributions of American Indians to the United States.