The 2000 Sacagawea Dollar (Buy on eBay) represented the debut issue for the new dollar coin series. The official circulation release date was January 27, 2000. The launch was accompanied by major promotional efforts from the United States Mint that included print ads, television commercials, and cross promotions such as the placement of a limited number of Sacagawea Dollars within boxes of Cheerios.
The U.S. Mint would produce more than one billion of the new “Golden Dollar” coins during the inaugural year. Unfortunately they never achieved widespread circulation. This failure is often attributed to the continued presence of dollar bills, which the public preferred over the coins. The number of Sacagawea Dollars minted for circulation would decline significantly by the second year and cease all together.
A number of special versions of the 2000 Sacagawea Dollar were available for collectors. The 5,500 coins that were distributed in boxes of Cheerios were later identified to have a pattern design, which differed from the final design used for circulation. Examples of the so-called “Cheerios Sacagawea Dollar” quickly gained popularity and continue to command high premiums.
The designer of the obverse of the coin Glenna Goodacre received her $5,000 commission in the new dollar coins. Known as the “Goodacre Presentation Sacagawea Dollars,” the coins were struck on burnished blanks and have a proof like appearance. All 5,000 coins were encapsulated by ICG to permanently identify their unique origin. Some of the coins were subsequently crossed over into holders of other grading companies, although the provenance was preserved.
Finally, the U.S. Mint released a special Millennium Coinage and Currency Set limited to 75,000 units. The set contained a 2000 American Silver Eagle, 2000-D Sacagawea Dollar, and one dollar bill including the number “2000” within the serial number. The Sacagawea Dollars contained in the set had a burnished surface and are identified as “Millennium Set” coins.
2000 Sacagawea Dollar Mintages
- 2000-P: 767,140,000
- 2000-P Cheerios: 5,500
- 2000-P Goodacre: 5,000
- 2000-D: 518,916,000
- 2000-D Millennium Set: 75,000
- 2000-S Proof: 4,047,904
