The issuance of the 2008 Sacagawea Dollar (Buy on eBay) was interesting for a number of reasons. Due to the authorization of the upcoming Native American Dollar Program, the United States Mint initially lacked legal authority to mint 2008-dated Sacagawea Dollars. Once authorization was obtained, this year would represent the last issue for the basic series and the lowest mintage circulation strike issues.
The U.S. Mint originally intended to release bags and rolls of the 2008 Sacagawea Dollar for sale to collectors on January 17, 2008. Before going on sale, the offering was pulled when the U.S. Mint realized that they did not have the legal authority to produce the coins. The newly established law which authorized the relaunch of the series as the Native American Dollar in 2009 did not provide for the issuance of coins during 2008. Separate authorizing legislation was ultimately passed on February 29, 2008, and the U.S. Mint announced that the coins would go on sale April 28, 2008.
Once again 25-coin rolls from either the Philadelphia or Denver Mint were offered for $35.95 per roll. Additionally, 250-coin bags were available from either Mint, priced at $319.95 per bag. Later in the year, the U.S. Mint would release the 2008 Proof Set and 2008 Silver Proof Set, which contained the 2008-S Proof Sacagawea Dollar, and the 2008 Uncirculated Mint Set, which contained the Satin finish versions of the coin from the Philadelphia and Denver Mints.
This final year of the original design represented the lowest mintages of the series for circulation strikes. Only 1,820,000 coins were produced at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. These coins carry a premium, particularly for original U.S. Mint wrapped rolls.
2008 Sacagawea Dollar Mintages
- 2008-P: 1,820,000
- 2008-D: 1,820,000
- 2008-S Proof: 2,169,561
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