The appearance of a Sacagawea dollar coin featuring arrows on its reverse side and no visible date on the obverse (the side displaying Sacagawea’s portrait) often leads to questions from collectors and the general public. This specific configuration points directly to the 2010 Sacagawea Native American dollar coin. This article will clarify why this particular coin looks the way it does, what its design signifies, and how to identify it correctly.
Understanding the Sacagawea Dollar Series
To comprehend the unique characteristics of the sacagawea coin with arrows on back no date, it helps to understand the evolution of the Sacagawea dollar series.
The Initial Sacagawea Dollar (2000-2008)
The Sacagawea golden dollar coin was first introduced by the U.S. Mint in 2000. Its purpose was to create a circulating dollar coin that would gain wider public acceptance than its predecessor, the Susan B. Anthony dollar. The initial design featured:
- Obverse: A portrait of Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who aided the Lewis and Clark Expedition, carrying her infant son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. This design was created by Glenna Goodacre.
- Reverse: A soaring eagle, representing freedom and the spirit of exploration, with 17 stars signifying the states in the Union at the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. This design was by Thomas D. Rogers Sr.
- Date and Mint Mark: For these early issues (2000-2008), the date and mint mark were prominently displayed on the obverse side, below Sacagawea’s portrait.
The Native American $1 Coin Program (2009-Present)
A significant change occurred in 2009 with the launch of the Native American $1 Coin Program. This program was established by an act of Congress (Public Law 110-82) to honor the important contributions of Native Americans to the history and development of the United States.
The core features of this new program are:
- Common Obverse: The obverse design featuring Sacagawea and her child remained constant throughout this program, serving as a unifying element.
- Annual Changing Reverse Designs: The most notable change was the introduction of a new reverse design each year. These designs are chosen to depict a different aspect of Native American history, culture, or significant individuals.
- Edge Incuse Inscriptions: A crucial identification detail for the sacagawea coin with arrows on back no date and all subsequent Native American dollars is the relocation of the date, mint mark, and the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” to the edge of the coin. This change means that if you look at the obverse or reverse faces, you will not see the date.
The 2010 Native American Dollar: Hiawatha Belt and Arrows
The specific coin in question, the sacagawea coin with arrows on back no date, is the 2010 Native American dollar. Its reverse design is particularly rich in symbolism and history.
Design Elements of the 2010 Reverse
The reverse of the 2010 Sacagawea dollar features the Hiawatha Belt surrounding five stone-tipped arrows. This design was created by Thomas Cleveland and sculpted by Joseph Menna.
- The Hiawatha Belt: This belt is a visual representation of the Haudenosaunee, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy. It is a wampum belt, traditionally made of shell beads, that records the formation of the confederacy.
- Five Stone-Tipped Arrows: The five arrows symbolize the unity and strength of the five original nations that formed the Iroquois Confederacy:
1. Mohawk
2. Onondaga
3. Oneida
4. Cayuga
5. Seneca
The bundle of arrows tied together is a powerful metaphor for collective strength. An individual arrow can be easily broken, but a bundle of five arrows is much harder to snap, representing the resilience gained through unity. This concept of strength through unity is central to the “Great Law of Peace,” the oral constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy.
Inscriptions on the 2010 Reverse
The inscriptions on the reverse of the 2010 coin provide further context:
- “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”
- “$1”
- “HAUDENOSAUNEE”
- “GREAT LAW OF PEACE”
These inscriptions clearly identify the theme honored by this particular Native American dollar. The term “Haudenosaunee” is the self-designation of the people of the Iroquois Confederacy, meaning “People of the Longhouse.”
Why “No Date” on the Face?
The primary reason a sacagawea coin with arrows on back no date appears this way is the change in inscription placement starting in 2009. Prior to 2009, the date and mint mark were on the obverse. From 2009 onward, for all Native American $1 coins, these critical identifiers were moved to the edge of the coin.
This means that to find the date and mint mark for your sacagawea coin with arrows on back no date, you must examine the edge of the coin. You will find the year “2010” and a mint mark (e.g., “P” for Philadelphia, “D” for Denver) incused into the edge.
Identifying Your Coin
If you possess a Sacagawea dollar and observe the following characteristics, you almost certainly have a 2010 Native American dollar:
- Obverse: Sacagawea’s portrait with her child, no date visible on this side.
- Reverse: The Hiawatha Belt surrounding five stone-tipped arrows.
- Edge: The date “2010” and a mint mark are found incused on the edge.
Any Sacagawea dollar coin from 2000-2008 will have the soaring eagle reverse and the date prominently displayed on the obverse. Any Native American dollar from 2009 or later will have edge lettering, and its reverse design will correspond to that year’s theme. For instance, the 2009 coin features the Three Sisters agriculture design, and later years have different themes. The specific design of the Hiawatha Belt and arrows is unique to the 2010 issue.
Collectibility and Value
The 2010 Native American dollar coin, like other modern circulating commemorative coins, is generally found in abundant quantities. Its value primarily depends on its condition.
- Circulated Condition: Coins found in circulation are typically worth their face value ($1).
- Uncirculated Condition: Coins in pristine, uncirculated condition, especially those from original mint rolls or sets, may fetch a slight premium above face value from collectors. The premium is usually modest unless the coin exhibits exceptional strike quality or rare die varieties.
- Proof Coins: The U.S. Mint also produces proof versions of these coins for collectors, which have a mirror-like finish and frosted devices. These are sold in special sets and hold a higher value than their business strike counterparts.
There are no widely known major errors or varieties for the 2010 Sacagawea dollar that would significantly increase its value, unlike some earlier Sacagawea dollar issues (e.g., the 2000-P “Wounded Eagle” variety, though its premium is also minor).
Conclusion
The sacagawea coin with arrows on back no date is a specific and identifiable coin: the 2010 Native American dollar. Its unique appearance stems from the annual changing reverse designs of the Native American $1 Coin Program and the relocation of the date and mint mark to the coin’s edge starting in 2009. This particular coin serves as a tangible tribute to the historical significance of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) and their enduring “Great Law of Peace,” symbolized by the powerful imagery of the Hiawatha Belt and the five united arrows. While typically valued at face value in circulation, it remains a fascinating piece of American coinage that carries a rich cultural narrative.
What is the error on the Sacagawea coin?
Great question! 2000-P Sacagawea Dollar Errors
Speared Eagle – In the initial production, the mint used a prototype reverse to produce these coins, which resulted in two spike-like die aberrations through the eagle’s breast.