A historic offering of Sacagawea dollars — presented on behalf of the United States Mint and comprising seven space-flown 2000-W examples along with the very first 25th-anniversary 2025-W issue — will be featured in Stack’s Bowers Galleries‘ Sept. 12 auction in Costa Mesa, California.
Treasures From Space
Central to the auction are the seven 2000-W Sacagawea dollars struck in 22-karat gold — coins that combine numismatic rarity with spaceflight history. Ranked #5 among the Top 100 Modern Coins by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), these proof pieces traveled nearly two million miles aboard Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1999 before being secured at the Fort Knox Bullion Depository for more than two decades.
"These space flown 22 Karat gold Sacagawea dollars transcend any single collectible category and stand as true American treasures," said Stack’s Bowers Galleries President Brian Kendrella.
Originally, 39 were struck, of which only the 12 best made the journey; the remainder were destroyed. With the exception of those appearing in this auction, the remaining flown pieces are held in the Mint’s archives and unavailable to the public.
These coins also feature the "engraved tail-feathers" reverse design — the same design found on the sought-after "Cheerios" variety of Sacagawea dollar. This distinctive reverse was used only on the earliest coins before being swiftly replaced with a less detailed version early in production.
A Modern Milestone
Adding to the auction’s prestige is the #1 2025-W Sacagawea dollar — composed in 24-karat gold. Produced to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sacagawea series, only 7,500 of these half-ounce proof coins were issued, and the first-struck piece stands as the most significant example.
It will also include a Certificate of Authenticity personally signed by Acting Director Kristie McNally.
Auction Details & Numismatic Significance
This event marks the fourth time Stack’s Bowers Galleries has been selected by the United States Mint to present a special auction. Previous collaborations include their $7.5 million sale of the 1933 Saint-Gaudens $20 in July 2002, the $4.6 million offering of the 35th Anniversary American Eagles in September 2022, and the $8.2 million auction of 230th Anniversary 2024 Flowing Hair Gold Coins in December 2024.
Live bidding begins on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 12 p.m. EDT (9 a.m. PDT), both onsite at Stack’s Bowers’ Griffin Studios in Costa Mesa, California, and online. All eight coins will be certified by PCGS and housed in custom-designed holders created specifically for this auction.
In a nod to the extraordinary nature of this sale, Stack’s Bowers is waiving the Buyer’s Premium for all eight Sacagawea dollars, ensuring that the hammer price represents the full amount due from the winning bidder, excluding shipping.
