The Walt Disney World Resort in central Florida near Orlando has just announced plans it is participating in a pilot program with the US Mint. Under this program, several merchandise and dining locations will now be giving back US Native American $1 coins instead of dollar bills as change.

"Our participation in the circulation pilot is part of a continued commitment to environmentality," states Thomas Smith (Social Media Director, Disney Parks) in the official blog about the launch of the program. "The coin is an environmentally responsible choice — it’s recyclable and lasts decades longer than paper bills."

Dollar coins are not a new idea in American coinage. The US Mint has been producing one version or another off and on since 1794. Some familiar examples that you may recall are the Seated Liberty Dollars, the Morgan Dollars, the Peace Dollars and the Eisenhower Dollars. Read the rest of this entry »

The latest US Mint figures show weekly sales more than doubled for the 2008 Annual Uncirculated Dollar Set, which includes the 2008-W Uncirculated Silver Eagle. Driving them higher is the fact that the set is the only way to buy an uncirculated Silver Eagle from the US Mint this year, following the 2009 Eagle cancellations.

Sales increased by 2,180 to total 81,088. The numbers are not exactly eye-popping, but considering weekly sales had trended between 600-900 during the last several months, with more toward the bottom end, it certainly represents extra interest. Read the rest of this entry »

The 2009 Silver Eagle coin cancellations sting many collectors the most following yesterday’s US Mint announcement that it would not offer several long awaited and anticipated 2009 products.

For many weeks now, collector questions, concerns and worry increased about the possibility of this very thing happening — especially to the proof Silver Eagle. The thought of forever having a gapping hole in a 23-year old collection is severely disappointing, but now a reality.

Of interesting note, there is still a means to buy an uncirculated 2008-dated American Silver Eagle directly from the US Mint. One is included in the 2008 US Mint Annual Uncirculated Dollar Set for $37.95. Read the rest of this entry »

With the US Mint announcing the upcoming 2009 US Mint Silver Proof Set launch, coin collectors are reminded of the still available — but for a short time only — 2008 Silver Proof Set.

For marketing focus and to avoid confusion, the US Mint generally ends the sale of prior year proof sets immediately before new year replacements are issued.

The 2009 silver set goes on sale Friday at noon ET so expect the Mint to pull the 2008 set from its online store before then — likely Friday morning.

Demand has been strong for the 14-coin proof offering, although easing of late to around 2,000-3,000 sold per week. In total, collectors have purchased 774,874 sets between its release on Aug. 26, 2008 through to Sunday, July 12. Read the rest of this entry »

The United States Mint and new 2009 Native American $1 Coins helped launch the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) festival, "Out of Many:  A Multicultural Festival of Music, Dance and Story."

The Saturday event was an official release ceremony for the coins too, as well as their images. Previously, only the 2009 Native American coin designs were readily available. Collectors and the public have been able to purchase 25-coin rolls of the coins since Thursday, Jan. 15, and in quantities of $250 or $500 through its Direct Ship Program since Jan. 2. Read the rest of this entry »

The United States Mint will officially introduce the 2009 Native American $1 Coin on Saturday and issue 25-coin rolls of them Thursday, Jan. 15, according to a Mint media advisory and web site product pages.

2009 is the first year for the new coins, which bear the familiar Sacagawea obverse or heads side design introduced in 2000 and a new reverse design depicting a Native American woman planting seeds in a field of corn, beans and squash (representing the Three Sisters method of planting).

The Native American $1 Coin Act mandates a different design every year as well as an equal mintage with each yearly Presidential $1 coin.

The Mint unveiled the 2009 Native American designs during Native American Heritage Day in November, added them to its Direct Ship Program on Jan. 2, and will sale 25-coin rolls on Thursday with either the Philadelphia "P" or Denver "D" mintmark. Read the rest of this entry »

$1 coins may now be used throughout the Washington Metro Transit System, the United States Mint and Washington Metro Area Transit Authority jointly announced today.

All modern $1 coins — from Presidential Dollars, to Sacagawea Golden Dollars, to the upcoming Native American $1 Coins — are now accepted and can be dispensed in Metro farecard vending machines.

Promoting the awareness and use of dollar coins is part of the Mint’s initiative to convince the public that coins are better, and cheaper to use than paper bills in every day transactions.

"We are excited about collaborating with Metro to increase circulation of $1 coins," Director Moy said. "Once the public realizes the benefits of using $1 coins, we are confident they will be motivated to use them more often."

According to the Mint, coins last 30 to 40 years and are reusable. It now says about one percent of old coins are recycled annually, which accounts for some 16 million in new coins every year. Read the rest of this entry »

Newly designed Native American $1 Coins will be available for face value on January 2 by way of the Direct Ship Program, the United States Mint said in a release Tuesday.

"By ordering through our Direct Ship Program, businesses and consumers have the convenience and flexibility of purchasing manageable quantities of circulating $1 coins at face value," said United States Mint Director Ed Moy.

The Mint unveiled images of the new 2009 $1 coin in late November. It bears the traditional Sacagawea portrait on the obverse, but sports a new reverse thanks to the Native American $1 Coin Act that mandates a different design each year as well as an equal mintage with the four yearly Presidential $1 coins. Read the rest of this entry »

U.S. Mint releases 2009 Native American $1 Coin design on Native American Heritage Day

The United States Mint on Friday helped to celebrate Native American Heritage Day by unveiling the design image for the new 2009 Sacagawea $1 coin, officially entitled the "Native American $1 Coin." The dollar will begin circulating in January along with the first 2009 Presidential $1 Coin.

The new reverse designed by U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Norman E. Nemeth depicts a Native American woman planting seeds in a field of corn, beans and squash. The scene represents the Three Sisters method of planting.

Read the rest of this entry »

The 2008 United States Silver Proof Set™ will be offered by the U.S. Mint Tuesday, August 26 at noon (ET). The 14 coin proof set carries the same $44.95 price tag as the 2007 sets, and no order limits are in place.

Each coin in the set bears the “S” mint mark, denoting they were manufactured at the United States Mint at San Francisco.

This year’s set includes the final five commemorative quarters to be issued in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program:

• 2008-S Silver Oklahoma Quarter
• 2008-S Silver New Mexico Quarter
• 2008-S Silver Arizona Quarter
• 2008-S Silver Alaska Quarter
• 2008-S Silver Hawaii Quarter

In addition, the proof set contains the following five $1 dollar coins:

Read the rest of this entry »