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One side of the Sacagewea coin depicts an American Indian woman planting seeds in a field of corn, beans and squash, representing the Three Sisters method of planting.Drawing courtesy U.S. Mint

Native American Coin to Be Issued in 2009

By Reznet staff

The United States Mint has released the designs for the new 2009 Native American $1 coin.

The new coin will be put into circulation in January 2009. It will circulate along with the United States Mint's $1 presidential coins. At least 20 percent of all $1 coins minted and issued in any year will be Native American coins.

"We are proud to produce the Native American $1 Coin," said Director Ed Moy in a U.S. Mint press release. "When Americans use this coin, we hope they reflect on the tremendous contributions Native Americans have made, and continue to make, to our nation."

The design was released on Friday, Nov. 28, the first Native American Heritage Day.

Like the presidential dollar coins, the Native American coins will be minted in a distinctive gold-colored alloy. The heads side features Sacagawea, the young Shoshone woman who accompanied Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their historic expedition. It was designed by sculptor Glenna Goodacre. That side includes the inscriptions LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. The year, mint mark and E PLURIBUS UNUM are on the coin's edge.

The tails side of the Native American dollar will bear a new design each year. The design for 2009 is by U.S. Mint sculptor/engraver Norman E. Nemeth, and is based on an agricultural theme, a significant part of American Indian culture. This design depicts a Native American woman planting seeds in a field of corn, beans and squash, representing the Three Sisters method of planting. Inscriptions on the reverse are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and $1.

Throughout the Presidential $1 Coin Program, the press release said, Native American coins will be issued in chronological order, as much as possible, of the events or persons featured.

The secretary of the treasury approves the designs after consulting with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the Congressional Native American Caucus of the House of Representatives, the National Congress of American Indians, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and the Commission of Fine Arts.