Many factors go into determining a coin’s value, some of which are pretty valuable while others are not. Look at the pictures and read each description carefully to identify these coins. Please refer to the Sacagawea value and price guide for the current market trends of these coins. If you are unsure if you have one of these valuable coins, you can take it to a local coin dealer or coin show for an expert opinion. Remember, not all coin dealers are experts in all types of coins. You may have to go to several before finding a dealer that knows enough about Sacajawea dollars to discern the variety of coins you have. Although the dollars were minted in 1999, they were dated with a 2000-P obverse. However, the mint used a prototype reverse to produce these dollars. This prototype reverse varied slightly from the production coin die used to make the rest of the dollars in 2000. General Mills then packaged these dollars in specially marked boxes of Cheerios. They advertised a “treasure hunt” and that one in every 2000 boxes of Cheerios would contain the new Sacajawea dollar. However, it wasn’t until 2005 that coin collector Pat Braddick noticed the difference between a regularly issued Sacagawea dollar and the ones placed in Cheerios’ boxes. Look for sharp and crisp details in the eagle’s tail feathers to identify this rare variety. She had all 5,000 coins encapsulated and certified by Independent Coin Grading Company (ICG). However, ICG did not grade the coins, but the encapsulation did preserve their provenance as one of the original 5,000 pieces presented to Goodacre. She immediately offered 3,000 of the coins for sale at $200 each. In 2010, Kentucky coin dealer Jeff Garrett, owner of Mid-American Rare Coin Gallery in Lexington purchased the remaining 2,000 coins. He had all of them crossed-over into PCGS encapsulated holders and release them into the market through a variety of coin dealers. Many collectors who purchased the original coins in ICG holders eventually submitted them to be graded and encapsulated into PCGS or NGC holders. There are no reports of collectors finding these in circulation. When you are inspecting your coins make sure that the lines are raised and not sunken into the design. Unscrupulous people have used tools to cut the lines into the coin’s design in order to simulate the Wounded Eagle Die Variety. If you are unsure, take your coin to a local coin shop or coin show for an expert opinion. Be careful if you purchase one of these on eBay or any other online auction site. The edge lettering can be easily added to the edge of a legitimate Sacajawea dollar. If you find one in circulation, you should send it to one of the third party grading companies for authentication and certification. That way, you can guarantee it is original, and the coin has not been altered since it left the mint.
