Dollar · 2000–2008

Sacagawea Dollar

Shoshone guide Sacagawea carrying her infant son Jean Baptiste on her back, on a golden-colored coin. A soaring eagle surrounded by seventeen stars, one for each state at the time of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Designer

Glenna Goodacre (obverse), Thomas D. Rogers Sr. (reverse)

Diameter

26.5 mm

Edge

Plain

Mint mark

Obverse (front), below the date

Composition

2000–2008: Manganese-brass clad ('golden dollar' — brass over a copper core) · 8.1 g

Did you know? To launch the coin, the Mint hid 5,500 brand-new 2000 dollars inside boxes of Cheerios cereal — and those 'Cheerios dollars' became some of the most valuable modern U.S. coins.

Beginner tip: The golden color is just brass, not gold — the real money is in the 2000-P varieties, so check any early Sacagawea's eagle tail feathers carefully.

Key dates to look for

2002-P Sacagawea

$4+ uncirculated

First year not released to circulation — Mint sets, bags, and rolls only

2004-P Sacagawea

$5+ uncirculated

Low-mintage collector-only year, never released for circulation

Valuable varieties & errors

2000-P 'Cheerios' Dollar (Enhanced Tail Feathers)

extreme

$3,000 – $10,000+

Most of the dollars packed into Cheerios boxes were struck from an early prototype reverse die with extra-detailed eagle tail feathers. Only a few dozen have been confirmed, making this the top prize of the whole series.

How to check: With a loupe, examine the eagle's tail feathers on the back of any 2000-P. On the Cheerios variety each feather shows a strong raised central shaft with fine crosshatch detail; on normal coins the feathers are smooth and flat. Certification is essential for this one.

2000-P 'Wounded Eagle'

rare

$75 – $600+

A raised die gouge cuts straight across the eagle's belly on this variety, looking like a spear through the bird — hence the nickname. It comes from damage to one reverse die and is recognized by the grading services.

How to check: Look at the eagle's belly on the back of a 2000-P. The Wounded Eagle shows a thin raised line running across the body between the wing and the leg. It's raised metal (from the die), not a scratch cut into the coin.

2000-P Goodacre Presentation Finish

rare

$350 – $800

Designer Glenna Goodacre asked to be paid her $5,000 design fee in the new dollars, and the Mint struck her 5,000 coins with a special burnished finish. Most were later certified, and they trade as a distinct collectible.

How to check: These have a smooth, satiny sheen unlike regular coins, but the difference is subtle — as a beginner, only trust examples already certified and labeled 'Goodacre Presentation' by PCGS or NGC rather than trying to diagnose one raw.

Error types found on this series

Wrong Planchet

A coin struck on a blank intended for a different denomination or country — like a quarter design on a nickel blank.

Missing Clad Layer

A dime, quarter, or half is missing its outer silver-colored layer on one side, exposing the copper core.

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.

Die Crack

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

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

Have one of these?

Identify your exact coin and see what to check for.

Identify my dollar coin