Alaska Requesting 5 Million Native American Dollars For Circulation

Earlier this year, the Native American $1 Coin was released with a design that highlighted the contributions made by anti-discrimination advocate Elizabeth Peratrovich. In its 20th year of production, the $1 coin features the 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. With such a distinguished recognition on this year’s coin, and especially in its 20th year, Alaska has taken quite the liking and personal pride to the design.

A joint resolution was passed, HJR 9, on January 22nd by both the Houses of State Legislature before it was presented to the Governor of Alaska, Mike Dunleavy, on February 11th. The resolution requested 5 million $1 coins to be provided by the United States Mint for the placement into general circulation in Alaska. It would be the first time in eight years as a moratorium was placed on the circulation and distribution of both the Presidential and Native American $1 Coins back in December of 2011 by then-Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

The United States Mint is currently awaiting the signature of Alaska’s Governor Dunleavy before moving forward with the nuts and bolts of the request. The Mint is aware of the passage of the resolution and is currently looking at ways to make them available for circulation in Alaska. Once the resolution is signed by the Governor, they will be able to share more detail as it becomes available to them.

In general, monetary needs for the state of Alaska are handled through the Seattle branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Production schedules and delivery costs, in addition to a number of other logistic details, will determine where the production of the 5 million requested would come from Philadelphia, Denver, or both facilities of the U.S. Mint.

Source: Coin World