Design recommendations have been made for the 2026 Native American dollar. The U.S. Mint’s Native American $1 coin series, introduced in 2009 and authorized by Public Law 110-82, features annually changing reverse designs that honor the significant contributions of Indigenous Americans, including American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians. In 2026, the coin’s design will highlight the theme "Oneidas at Valley Forge."
During the Revolutionary War, Oneida warriors traveled 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.
For some background, proposed designs for the 2026 dollar were initially reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on April 16 and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on April 18, 2024. (See the original designs.) Both panels suggested refinements to several of these designs and anticipated a subsequent review. The revised designs were then reviewed by the CCAC on June 18 and by the CFA on June 20.
During the first round of reviews in April, design #3 was one of a handful to receive very favorable comments. It was suggested to further develop the design to present Polly Cooper and George Washington in a more complementary manner. This was done, with three variations presented during the second round of reviews.
Supported by several stakeholders and liaisons, members of the CCAC and CFA ultimately approved design #3 with some tweaks. CCAC members recommended a few inscription changes, which essentially led to design #3B without the starburst, as many felt its inclusion made the design look too busy. The CFA concurred but went further, also suggesting a more thoughtful placement of "$1," perhaps before the inscription "ONEIDA ALLIES AT VALLEY FORGE."
Below are U.S. Mint images of the second collection of candidate designs that were reviewed. Aside from design #3, the second most discussed and favored design was #7.
The design for the 2026 dollar 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.
