In today’s coin climate, mention of modern coins occurs often. With the number of commemoratives, medals, and special edition sets being released from the United States Mint as of late, how could there not be such talk? But we would be remiss if we did not talk about one of the most popular modern coins that are released annually and perhaps has lacked the red carpet treatment because of it: the Native American, or Sacagawea, $1 coin.
Let us not forget the impact these small dollars had on the coin community from their release in 2000. As the Susan B. Anthony dollar was the last to be struck with the circulating denomination in 1981, this new dollar coin steeped in American history was to honor Sacagawea and the expedition of Lewis and Clark to the Pacific Ocean. The excitement of a new dollar coin combined with its “golden” look created a new avenue in the coin market. But like any new coin, varieties and type coins are prominent and the 2000 P Sacagawea was no different.
To take a look deeper into the “Goodacre Presentation” variety, we refer to Whitman Publishing’s publication of the Top 100 Greatest United States Modern Coins that features a compiled list from both authors Scott Schecter and Jeff Garrett in addition to some numismatic input from some of the most influential coin dealers in the hobby. Let us look at this next selection more in depth from the fourth edition of the publication.
#66 - 2000 P Sacagawea Dollar ‘Goodacre Presentation’ Variety
After being selected as the winning design in the competition that started the coin’s journey, Glenna Goodacre’s obverse features Sacagawea and her infant son, Jean Baptiste. Above her head reads the inscription “LIBERTY” while to the left of her reads “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The lower right near her shoulders depict the year and mintmark while in this case, reads “2000 P.” The reverse of the $1 coin designed by Thomas D. Rogers, features an eagle in flight while being encompassed by the 13 stars that represent the nation’s original 13 colonies. The top arc of the coin features the inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” while the bottom arc of the coin reads “ONE DOLLAR.” “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is found to the left of the soaring eagle in the middle of the coin.
Goodacre, who accepted her $5,000 commission in the form of the newly designed coins, submitted a large portion of those coins to certification companies. There was an important point to note in these specific coins though: they were specially prepared presentation coins rather than the standard circulated issue that would be released to the public. These coins at the time were said to have been burnished after they were struck and thought to have been handled with extra care due to their high grades and overall appearance suggesting so. It was soon suggested that these coins, the Goodacre Presentation coins, were so well struck that a higher striking pressure was used.
Of the 5,000 coins given to Goodacre, it was also found that a little over a hundred of them were not burnished and were instead struck on polished and/or proof blanks from special dies. Also from the lot of $1 coins she received, she kept 2,000 while selling the remaining 3,000 for $200 each. Their value has continued to grow and increase while being in the secondary market. In today’s market, the $5,000 worth of coins gifted to Goodacre as commission in 2000 now is worth over $2 million.
Like a lot of varieties and type coins, these coins are best bought when in a certification holder. There have been a total of four coins graded in a MS68, the highest grade, by NGC with a price guide reaching $455.00. However, according to PCGS’s census report, there have been a total of 31 coins certified in MS69 with a price guide of $5,200.00.
This coin has not changed ranking since the third edition but has moved up from the first edition four spots (#70).