The United States Mint this week announced that it would officially launch the 2011 Native American Dollar coin in a ceremony on January 12, 2011. The US Mint first revealed the new dollar coin design in late November.
As a part of the Native American $1 Coin Act, the US Mint is mandated to change the reverse design of the Native American Dollar Coin every year. The designs are to be emblematic of the historic contributions made by Indian tribes and Native American individuals.
The site selected for the 2001 launch is located at the Plimoth Plantation Henry Hornblower II Visitor Center in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The ceremony will be held at 10:30 AM ET.
Like most official US Mint release events, children 18 years old and younger will receive a free dollar coin following the ceremony. Adults can exchange cash for rolls of the coins.
On the same day, although not yet officially announced, the US Mint is expected to offer on its website rolls of the Native American Dollar that were struck from Denver or Philadelphia. Prices are likely to be the same as each of the 2010 rolls which are still available today for $35.95.
The 2011 Native American Dollar reverse design, by Richard Masters, depicts the hands of the Supreme Sachem Ousamequin Massasoit and Governor John Carver, symbolically offering the ceremonial peace pipe after the initiation of the first formal written peace alliance between the Wampanoag tribe and the European settlers. Inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, $1, and WAMPANOAG TREATY 1621.
The obverse (heads side) design, by Glenda Goodacre, continues to feature Sacagawea as first produced in 2000. Inscriptions include LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.
Mandated by law, 20 percent of all $1 coins produced by the US Mint each year must be Native American Dollars.
