On Monday, April 15, the United States Mint revealed 14 potential designs for the 2026 Native American $1 Coin, gearing up for their assessment before the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on April 16 and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on April 18. All the provided line art images offer designs emblematic of the theme, "Oneidas at Valley Forge."
During the Revolutionary War, Oneida warriors journeyed hundreds of miles to join George Washington’s army at Valley Forge, accompanied by a Oneida woman named Polly Cooper. Notably, their provision of hundreds of baskets of white corn proved invaluable, as Cooper taught soldiers and their families how to correctly prepare and cook the corn, saving lives among the starving Continental troops. Most of the proposed designs for the 2026 Native American dollar depict Polly Cooper.
Launched in 2009 and authorized by Public Law 110-82, the U.S. Mint’s Native American $1 coin series showcases annually changing reverse designs (tails side) that pay tribute to the significant contributions made by Indigenous Americans, who include American Indians, Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiians.
The design for the 2026 coin will ultimately be chosen by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with several entities, including the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the Congressional Native American Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the National Congress of American Indians, in addition to considering the recommendations made by the CFA and CCAC.
The obverses or heads side of the dollars in the yearly series share Glenna Goodacre’s portrayal of Sacagawea carrying her infant son, Jean-Baptiste.
This year’s Native American dollar commemorates the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. The 2025 dollar depicts Mary Kawena Pukui, a scholar, author, composer, dancer, and educator, and the first Native Hawaiian to be honored in the $1 coin program.
In 2026, American coinage will stand out more compared to other years. In addition to the Native American dollar and its distinctive design, other coins will showcase one-year-only designs. These will celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary and include dual-dated cents and nickels, other circulating coins, as well as "Best of the Mint" coins and medals.
