There have been a number of $1 coins over the years produced by the United States Mint. From back in 1794 to the current day, dollar coins have been produced in a number of different precious metals and compositions as well as having a number of different faces and designs. One of those designs and dollars was first produced at the very beginning of the new century and is now in its 20th year of production in 2020. That dollar? The Native American $1 Coin.
In the year 2000, the Mint released what was then referred to as the Sacagawea Golden Dollar under Public Law 105-124, also known as the United States $1 Coin Act of 1997. The new small-dollar coin featured an image of Sacagawea carrying her infant son, Jean-Baptiste, on the obverse while an eagle was depicted on the reverse. Nearly ten years later in 2009, the Mint then decided to mint the dollar coins featuring designs that celebrated the contributions made by Indian tribes in addition to specific Native American individuals who were important to the progress and development of the United States of America.
Those designs are still changed annually and in its 20th year of production, the Mint has decided to highlight the contributions made by anti-discrimination advocate Elizabeth Peratrovich. Released from the Philadelphia and Denver Mint in rolls, bags, and boxes on February 12th, the United States Mint will feature a portrait of Peratrovich on the reverse with a symbol of the Tlingit Raven moiety in the foreground as she was a member. Peratrovich’s advocacy and persistence were considered a major factor in the passing of the Anti-Discrimination Law by the Alaskan territorial government in 1945. The reverse will also feature the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, “ELIZABETH PERATROVICH”, “$1”, and “ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW OF 1945”.
The obverse will feature the classic design of Sacagawea with her son Jean-Baptiste on her back. Each coin will be edge lettered with the year and mintmark in which it was produced.