2019 $1 Coin Celebrates American Indians in U.S. Space Program

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The United States Mint revealed the one-year-only design that will appear on the 2019 Native American $1 Coin.

2019 Native American $1 Coin - obverse and reverse
2019 Native American $1 Coin (obverse and reverse)

Honoring American Indians in the U.S. space program, the design pairs nicely with those on 2019 Apollo 11 Commemorative Coins which celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first manned moon landing.

The reverse of the 2019 Native American dollar depicts renowned engineer Mary Golda Ross writing calculations. Behind her, an Atlas-Agena rocket launches into space, with an equation inscribed in its cloud. An astronaut, symbolic of Native American astronauts like John Herrington, spacewalks above. In the field behind, a group of stars indicates outer space. Inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and $1. Emily Damstra created the design and Joseph Menna sculpted it.

2019 Native American $1 Coin - reverse
A larger view of the 2019 dollar’s reverse

Considered the first Native American engineer in the U.S. space program, Ross helped develop the Agena spacecraft for the Gemini and Apollo space programs.

Annually Changing Reverse Designs

Authorized under Public Law 110-82, introduced in 2009, and featuring annually changing reverses, the Native American $1 Coin Program commemorates the important contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the history and development of the United States. The series has featured these designs themes:

  • 2009 – Three Sisters Agriculture
  • 2010 – Great Tree of Peace and the Iroquois Confederacy
  • 2011 – Great Wampanoag Nation
  • 2012 – Trade Routes
  • 2013 – Treaty with the Delawares
  • 2014 – Native Hospitality Ensured the Success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
  • 2015 – Contributions of the Kahnawake Mohawk and Mohawk Akwesasne communities to "high iron" construction work
  • 2016 – Contributions of the Native American Code Talkers in World War I and World War II
  • 2017 – Sequoyah, inventor of the Cherokee Syllabary
  • 2018 – Sports legend Jim Thorpe, a member of the Sac and Fox tribe

 

2018 Native American $1 Dollar Coin
The theme for the 2018 Native American dollar honors sport legend James Francis “Jim” Thorpe (1888-1953).
Native American 2017 $1 Dollar Coin
The theme for the 2017 Native American dollar honors Sequoyah, inventor of the Cherokee Syllabary
2016 Native American $1 Dollar Coin
The theme for the 2016 Native American dollar design commemorates Code Talkers
2015 Native American $1 Dollar Coin
The theme for the 2015 Native American dollar design commemorates Mohawk Ironworkers
2014 Native American $1 Dollar Coin
The theme for the 2014 Native American dollar design commemorates native hospitality
2012 Native American $1 Dollar Coin
The theme for the 2013 Native American dollar commemorates the Delaware Treaty of 1778
2012 Native American $1 Dollar Coin
The theme for the 2012 Native American dollar design features ‘Trade Routes in the 17th Century’
2011 Native American 1 Dollar Coin
The theme for 2011 Native American dollar design depicts 'Diplomacy - Treaties with Tribal Nations'
2010 Native American $1 Coin
The theme for the 2010 Native American dollar design symbolizes 'Government -- The Great Tree of Peace'
2009 Native American $1 Coin
The theme for the 2009 Native American dollar design depicts the 'Spread of Three Sisters Agriculture'

Common Obverse Design

Obverses of Native American $1 Coins share the same portrait of "Sacagawea," as designed by sculptor Glenna Goodacre. The familiar image has been around since the Sacagawea golden dollar debuted in 2000. Inscriptions around Sacagawea read LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.

2019 Native American $1 Coin - obverse
Obverse of Native American dollars

An edge inscription indicates the year of issue, mint mark, and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

Edges of Dollar Coins
Dollar coins are composed in 88.5% copper, 6% zinc, 3.5% manganese and 2% nickel. They weigh 8.1 grams, have a diameter of 26.49 mm and a thickness of 2.00 mm.

Upcoming U.S. Mint Dollar Products

Dollar coins have not been released into circulation since 2011. The U.S. Mint produces them solely for its numismatic products found here.

Later this week, on Friday, Dec. 14, the U.S. Mint will introduce another multi-year dollar program. This one honors innovation and innovators. For more about the first dollar in this series and available products, read this article.

The first U.S. Mint products with 2019-dated dollars launch on Feb. 13, 2019. As an aside, the previously mentioned Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coins launch three weeks earlier on Jan. 24, 2019.

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jpeter

Does anyone know, is there an end date to these coins?

Dustyroads

Great question!

Chas Barber

Great Design now 2 years in a row…..and this set will run FOREVER it seems……..

J Peter

You say for 15 years? OK. Thanks Dustyroads.
Chas Barber, my favorites of these coins are
2009
2010
2013
2014
2016
A toss up between 2010 and 2013 for my ultimate favorite.