Uncirculated Sacagawea
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/18/2008 03:38 pm by admin
Uncirculated Sacagawea
 |
![2007pd MINT UNCIRCULATED SET 2] SACAGAWEA SATIN FINISH DOLLARS](http://www.luxsox.com/images/e/120921386217_0.jpg)
 2000 P Sacagawea Dollar Uncirculated  US $2.50
|
 2010 NATIVE AMERICAN SACAGAWEA DOLLAR P or D 1 COIN BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED US $2.35
|
The Presidential Dollars represent the latest attempt by the US Mint to circulate a one dollar coin in the United States.
It's a noble ambition... well, at least it's a worthy attempt to save some money. Dollar coins cost pennies to make, and they last a long, long time. Paper dollars don't cost much to make either, but they only last about six months on average.
Will the public actually use them? Does it matter?
The dollar coin has never been wildly popular with the public. Back in 1794, when the first US dollar coin was introduced, a dollar was a lot of money. People didn't need many of them day to day. That was fine. The fledgling US mint was initially a jury rigged establishment not known for its efficiency. Mintages were low.
And besides, the Spanish silver "piece of eight" was much more plentiful. It was recognized by the public as a coin made from good silver. The US Congress specified that the new American dollar coin be made to a specification very similar to that of the Spanish coin, which it also allowed to circulate as legal tender until 1857.
By the time the mint had developed into a more significant institution, with ample ability to produce coins of high quality in sufficient quantity, the need for the still large silver dollar was threatened, first by the Civil War, during which coins of all sizes were hoarded by the citizenry, and then, as an outgrowth of the wartime coin shortage, the growing acceptance of paper money. Paper dollars were more convenient, especially in the populous Eastern states.
Now, it's interesting to know, that even though the public, except at the gaming tables in Nevada, has never been fond of the "silver cartwheels" - the government has rarely let that stand in the way of dollar coin production. When silver mines overproduced during the 1870s, and the price of silver was falling, Congress passed legislation requiring that, for every paper dollar printed, a silver dollar would be struck.
And so they were - by the millions. But they didn't circulate, at least not in the quantities being produced. Most of the silver dollars of that era were put into canvas bags and stored in bank vaults.
Many were stored at the mint. I have personally observed the curved indentations made by these coins in the lead lined walls of a San Francisco Mint vault when I toured the building years ago. And when I was a kid in the 1950s, I could take a twenty dollar bill to my local bank and exchange it for a roll of twenty silver dollars. Many of these were in uncirculated condition with dates in the 1870s, 80s, and 90s!
By 1935 the mint had struck its last traditional 90% silver one dollar coin.
Moving ahead to 1971 a new dollar coin appeared. This was the Eisenhower dollar, which commemorated the first President remembered by most of the Boomer Generation. It was the same size as the old silver dollar, but at best, contained barely 40% silver. The first time I received "Ike" dollars in circulation was in 1972 at a gas station in California, just beyond the Nevada state line. It was the only time I ever saw them in change.
Then in 1979 we were offered another chance to love the dollar coin. Known by many as "The Suzy", the Susan B. Anthony dollar was not especially fetching. It had no silver content whatsoever and, it was very near the size of the quarter. Those who tried to spend them were often rebuffed as short changers by cashiers who had little time to scrutinize each coin for the piercing glance of Susan B.
The Sacagawea dollar coin of 2000 was unique in appearance. With its golden color it looked like no other US circulating coin - but to no avail. It didn't widely circulate either. The paper dollar still ruled!
Now in 2007 we have the Presidential Dollars which will be struck for four different presidents each year until all presidents who have been dead for at least two years have been honored. They are the same golden color as the Sacagawea coin, and so far, these too have failed to circulate. People love their paper dollars. And so far, Congress has not seriously considered retiring it. Even with the success of nearby Canada in circulating a dollar coin, success eludes the US coin.
Why has Canada managed to pull this off? No more Canadian paper dollars, that's why.
So, is the US Mint Director gnashing his teeth in frustration?
No, because the dollar coins are still successful economically, from the mint's perspective, even if none of them EVER circulated. This is because the mint spends a few cents to produce the dollar coin, but gets to carry the coin on its books at full face value. The difference is called seniorage. It makes the balance sheet at the mint a healthy shade of black, and helps to offset the ugly red numbers that come from making pennies and nickels!
You may want to visit my web site at http://www.valuable-coin-stories.com where you will find more in-depth information, and of course, valuable coin stories!
I've collected coins since age 11 -- so, more than half a century. Coins have been a pleasant distraction over the years. Though I've never been a coin dealer, I have occasionally sold a coin or two at a nice profit, when the market was right. These experiences have taught me a bit about coin value in the marketplace. But I have to say that my greatest pleasure with coins has been the hooks they have to history and other areas of learning. And, I can never quite get beyond the feeling that, if any of my coins could talk, the stories would be priceless!
|
|
Sacagawea $27.24 This introduction to the life of Sacagawea emphasizes her vital contribution to the work of explorers Lewis and Clark. Illustrated with oil paintings. |
|
|
Cofa Sacagawea $5.99 Describes how Sacagawea found adventure guiding Lewis and Clark to the Oregon coast. |
|
|
Who Was Sacagawea? $10.27 A brief biography of Sacagawea, the Shoshoni woman who accompanied explorers Lewis and Clark on their expedition in the early 1800s. |
|
|
Sacagawea Dollars $8.21 To celebrate the release of the new Sacagawea dollar coin in early 2000, Whitman is pleased to offer a new folder that will hold coins from the Denver and Philadelphia Mints beginning in 2000. |
|
|
Sacagawea (Hardcover) $45.01 "Discusses the life of Sacagawea, including her Shoshone childhood, her kidnapping by the Hidatsa, her journey with the Lewis and Clark expedition, and her legacy in American history"--Provided by publisher. |
|
|
Lewis and Clark with Sacagawea $49.99 Edgar Samuel Paxson Lewis and Clark with Sacagawea - Giclee Print |
|
|
Sacagawea, American Pathfinder $10.39 Describes how Sacagawea found adventure guiding Lewis and Clark to the Oregon coast. |
|
|
Sacagawea (Paperback) $15.23 While traveling with the Corps of Discovery across America`s then-uncharted West, Sacagawea-with a baby strapped to her back-endured unimaginable dangers. We know little about her thoughts and feelings, since she left no records of her own, but without her, Lewis and Clark certainly could never have succeeded. Emma Carlson Berne separates truth from legend, and offers some ideas on what eventually happened to this strong and fascinating woman.  |
|
|
Brilliant Uncirculated Statehood Quarters $51.95 This set from American Coin treasure includes all of the 2006P Mint (Philadelphia Mint) and 2006D Mint (Denver Mint) Statehood Quarters. These quarters are graded MS63 brilliant and are uncirculated.State quarters included: Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii.Set includes 10 uncirculated coinsMinted in the Philadelphia and Denver MintGrade: MS63 brilliantGraded by the American Alliance Coin Grading Service (AACGS)Dimensions: 5.375 inches x 4.375 inches x 0.625 inches |
|
|
Sacagawea, Lewis and Clark (Unabridged) $7.79 Sacagawea was a Shoshone Indian woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition in their exploration of the Western United States.... |
|
|
A Picture Book of Sacagawea $16.36 This biography of Sacagawea examines her childhood as well as her role as translator and guide to the explorers Lewis and Clark. Illustrated with watercolor paintings. |
|
|
Sacagawea River $93.99 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The Sacagawea River is a tributary of the Musselshell River, approximately 30 mi (48 km) long, in northcentral Montana in the United States. It rises on the plains of northern Fergus County and flows eastward. The river formerly joined the Musselshell five miles above the confluence of the Musselshell with the Missouri, but it now flows into the arm of Fort Peck Lake on the Missouri formed by the mouth of the Musselshell. The river was explored during the Lewis and Clark Expedition and named after their guide, Sacagawea. The river was named after her because she was in a canoe, and got caught in a storm. The canoe nearly tipped over, the expedition members were trying to balance the boat, but Sacajawea collected all the books, records, and instruments from the journey. They may have been covered in some material which prevented water damage. The river was named after her for this deed. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 128 Publication Date: 2010/07/29 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.00 x 0.30 inches |