Sacagawea Dollar Coin Errors, Varieties, and Values

valuable sacagawea dollar coins

Sacagawea Dollar Coin Errors, Varieties, and Values

Sacagawea dollar errors and varieties are collectible coins.  For instance, a thorough examination detected improperly mixed alloy streaks, thereby making this 2021 Sacagawea dollar a unique mint state grade error coin. 

dollar coin errors sacagawea
Sacagawea Dollar Improper Alloy Mix Planchet Error Coin

Furthermore, observe the anomalies on other 2021 Sacagawea Dollars, and learn about her role as a Native American code talker.  First, an improperly mixed alloy error is what creates the “woody” affect on some coins.  It’s actually a planchet error, and as shown in the image above, some streaks are darker or lighter than others. 

Improper Alloy Mix Error Coins

In other words,  “poorly mixed alloy may result in alternating light and dark streaks.  This is often referred to as a “wood grain” pattern, and the coins themselves as “woodies.” – errorref.com

Sacagawea Dollar
Sacagawea Dollar
Finding Rare and Valuable Sacagawea Dollars

Additionally, the best approach to finding a rare Sacagawea Native American dollar coin error or variety like this, is to search through original mint wrapped uncirculated rolls of Native American dollars.  Moreover, searching 2021 mint sets ensures mint state grade proof specimens.

Native American History & Heritage

Furthermore, the 2021 Native American Dollar Coin Commemorative Medal Program Represents American Military Services.  In 2009 the United States Mint began minting and issuing $1 coins, featuring designs celebrating the important contributions made by Native Americans to the history, development, and protection of the United States.”- PCGS.com

valuable sacagawea coin
2021 Native American Dollar
2021 Native American Dollar Design

“The obverse design displays Sacagawea carrying her infant son Jean Baptiste.  Furthermore, the reverse shows stars representing five branches of the U.S. military in the foreground, while a circle provides an additional reference to Native Americans.  Eagle feathers are highly regarded tokens by Native Americans.

Moreover, Native Americans have received recognition for their service, including five Medals of Honor during World War II.  Furthermore, their exemplary record of military service continues to this day.” – usmint.gov

valuable sacagawea dollar coin
Valuable Sacagawea Dollar Coins
Sacagawea's Military Services

“In 1804, President Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on the now-legendary transcontinental expedition to explore the American West.

He instructed them to search for the fabled Northwest Passage from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, but he also desired firsthand knowledge of the land, its inhabitants, its vegetation, its mineral products, and its animal life and habitat.” – sos.mo.gov.

Sintered Planchet Sacagawea Error Coin

“While at Fort Mandan, Lewis and Clark met French-Canadian trapper Toussaint Charbonneau and hired him as an interpreter.  Furthermore, they allowed his pregnant Shoshone Native American wife to join him on the expedition.

uncirculated original mint wrapped Sacagawea Dollar rolls
Click on a roll to get uncirculated original mint wrapped Sacagawea Dollars via eBay

Lewis and Clark hoped she could help them communicate by translating for them with any Shoshone encountered on their journey.  On February 11, 1805, Sacagawea gave birth to a son and named him Jean Baptiste.  As a result of her skills, she became an invaluable and respected asset for Lewis and Clark.” – History.com

valuable native american coins
Arrows note die chips on a 2021 Native American Coin
2021 Native American Dollar Mintage

“The 2021 Native American Dollar is the lowest minted in more than a decade of mintages before them, with only 2.52 million produced as the total combined with 1.26 million produced by each the Denver and Pennsylvania mints.” – coinnews.net

Sacagawea Golden Dollar

Furthermore, the 2021 Native American dollar is made of 77% Copper, 12% Zinc, and 1% other, over a pure Copper core.  It weighs 8.1 grams.  However, the golden Sacagawea dollar coin is not made of actual gold, but obtained its name for its golden appearance.

2021 dollar error list
2021 Dollar Coin Error: "Burnt Planchet"
Dollar Coin Varieties

Major grading services recognize the up or down imprinting, or orientation of the edge lettering on Presidential and Sacagawea Dollars.  TYPE/POSITION A means that the edge lettering reads upside-down when Sacagawea’s portrait faces up.  TYPE/POSITION B means that the edge lettering reads normally when Sacagawea’s portrait faces up – greatcollections.com

2021 Native American Dollar Values

A 2021-P $1 Native American Position Type B graded MS67, sold at auction for $45.00.   Furthermore, a 2021-P $1 Native American Position Type A graded MS69, sold at auction for $172.00.

sacagawea coin value
Rare Sacagawea Coins
Improperly Annealed or Sintered Planchet Mint Error

“Numismatists may refer to the surface discoloration as improperly washed or burnt planchets.  ANACS refers to these as an “Improperly Mixed Alloy.”  PCGS refer to them as struck on “Sintered Planchets.”

NGC calls them “Improperly Annealed Planchets.”  Improperly annealed planchets can take on a variety of colors, from black to copper red.  This error is caused by over-heating the planchets.” – Ken Potter

$1 sacagawea coin
Native American Dollar Errors

A most famous Sacagawea coin error is the 2014-D Sacagawea mule dollar.  It has the presidential design on the reverse. – coinworld.com

Additionally, rotated die errors and doubled edge lettering are other errors to look for on these dollar coins.  Moreover, some Sacagawea dollars may display weak edge lettering, partial edge lettering, or even doubled edge lettering.
valuable 2021 dollar
Sintered Planchet Error Coin

“Edge lettering wasn’t on Sacagawea Dollars until 2009.  However, some still slipped away from the mint without the edge lettering.  First, pay attention to the design elements and devices. 

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Then look for abnormalities and weigh the coins.  Finally, compare a suspected die variety to a common coin to help identify true differences.”- TheSpruceCrafts

sacagawea coin
Doubled Die Variety & Error Dollar Coins

Additionally, varietyvista.com has a 2007 P Sacagawea doubled die reverse listed to compare coins with.  Don’t forget to look for doubling of the stars!

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau

Furthermore, “American Numismatic Association (ANA) Authenticator Brian Silliman verified that the 2000 Sacagawea $1 coin struck on a hollow-center planchet was certainly legitimate, and potentially worth around $10,000.00. –  money.org.

Moreover, a rare 2000-P $1 Sacagawea Dollar was discovered as struck on an Susan B Anthony Dollar Planchet.  That rarity coin sold for more than $6000.00!  Additionally, observe the recent sold listings of Sacagawea dollar coins on Ebay!

2021 native american dollar value
Note a die crack on a 2021 Native American Dollar

Moreover, doubled and overlapped edge lettering increases value and can be several hundred dollars in certain grades and dates. – coinauctionshelp.com.   Speaking of error coins, check out a 2021 Morgan Dollar Error!  

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This website is a partnered associate and may contain affiliate links. Full disclosure is found here.   Finally, check out a 2019 Lincoln cent with a partial plating errorHappy Treasure Coin Hunting!