Throughout history, the US dollar coin has depicted a variety of individuals and symbols. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most notable figures:
- Susan B. Anthony: A leader in the women’s suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony was the first non-mythical woman to be featured on a US circulating coin, minted between 1979-1981 and again in 1999.
- Sacagawea: The Shoshone guide of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Sacagawea is depicted on the Sacagawea Golden Dollar coins, which were first released in 2000 and continue to be minted.
– The reverse of the original Sacagawea dollar featured a soaring eagle.
– Starting in 2009, the Sacagawea Dollar became the Native American $1 Coin , with the Sacagawea obverse and yearly changing reverse designs honoring Native American history and culture.
- US Presidents: The Presidential $1 Coin Program , launched in 2007, features the portraits of deceased US presidents in chronological order.
– The reverse of these coins depicts the Statue of Liberty.
– The program started with George Washington and continued with four presidents featured each year.
– Production for circulation was suspended after 2011 due to a surplus of coins, with new coins being minted only for collectors until the program’s end in 2016, although a coin for George H.W. Bush was issued in 2020.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower: The Eisenhower dollar, minted from 1971-1978, featured the portrait of President Dwight D. Eisenhower on the obverse.
– The reverse initially featured an adaptation of the Apollo 11 mission insignia.
– For the 1976 Bicentennial, a special reverse design of the Liberty Bell was used.
- Lady Liberty: Earlier dollar coins, such as the Flowing Hair Dollars, Draped Bust Dollars, and Seated Liberty Dollars, featured allegorical representations of Liberty.
- Some dollar coins, particularly those with errors like the Sacagawea mule error or the “wounded eagle” variety, can be extremely valuable to collectors.
- While the Presidential dollars have been criticized for not gaining widespread use, they remain a popular series for collectors due to their historical significance and the variety of designs.
Why was Susan B. Anthony on the dollar coin?
Good point! The Susan B. Anthony Dollar was the first time that a non-mythical woman appeared on a U.S. circulating coin. The coin replaced the Eisenhower Dollar and was minted from 1979 through 1981 and again in 1999. It honored women’s suffrage leader, Susan B.
Who was on the $1 coin before Sacagawea?
Sacagawea, the famous Shoshone woman and explorer, has appeared on U.S. dollar coins since 2000. She replaced Susan B. Anthony, who briefly graced the coin from 1979-1981 and 1999. Before that, President Dwight Eisenhower was featured on larger dollar coins from 1971-1978.