Dollar · 2009–2026

Native American Dollar

The same golden-colored Sacagawea portrait, now paired with a reverse design that changes every year. A new design each year honoring Native American contributions, from the Three Sisters crops (2009) to code talkers and beyond.

Designer

Glenna Goodacre (obverse); various artists (annual reverses)

Diameter

26.5 mm

Edge

Lettered (date, mint mark, and E PLURIBUS UNUM on the edge)

Mint mark

On the edge of the coin, alongside the date

Composition

2009–2026: Manganese-brass clad ('golden dollar') · 8.1 g

Did you know? Starting in 2009 the date and mint mark moved to the edge of the coin, so the faces could give more room to the artwork.

Beginner tip: Roll the coin along your finger to read the edge — that's where the date and mint mark live, and an edge with no lettering at all is a collectible mint error.

Key dates to look for

2012-P Native American

$5+ uncirculated

First year struck only for collectors, not circulation

2015-W Native American

$20+

Enhanced uncirculated coin from the Coin & Currency set — first W-mint dollar

Valuable varieties & errors

2009 Missing Edge Lettering

scarce

$50 – $350

Some 2009 dollars skipped the machine that applies the edge inscription, leaving the edge completely blank. Because the date and mint mark are on the edge, these coins have no visible date at all.

How to check: Check the edge of the coin: a normal example shows the date, mint mark, and E PLURIBUS UNUM incused into the edge. If the edge is completely smooth and blank on a genuine coin, it's the error — weight and color should still look normal.

Error types found on this series

Improperly Annealed Planchet

A heat-treatment mistake turned the blank's surface an unusual color — most famously the coppery-red 'sintered' state quarters and dollars.

Off-Center Strike

The blank wasn't centered when struck, so part of the design is missing and part of the coin is blank.

Die Crack

A crack in the die fills with metal during the strike, leaving a thin raised line on the coin.

Machine Doubling

The die bounced or chattered at the moment of striking, smearing a flat shelf-like second edge onto the design.

Real photos where available (credits); others are illustrations.

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