November is Native American Indian Month at the U.S. Mint— they’re offering coin collectors a variety of coins and medals commemorating the contributions made by Native Americans.
European history has always recognized Columbus discovering America in 1492. Simply not true. Just down the road a few miles from this author was the discovery of one of the oldest and most complete human skeleton finds in North America— she’s called “The Leanderthal Lady.”
The Texas Archeological Research Lab at The University of Texas at Austin found carbon dating of her skeleton was 10,000-13,000 years old. In a society still in the Stone Age, there were no doubt many great Native cultures and leaders. Sadly, so much of Native North American’s history has been lost because of their inability to leave a written record.
About the Sacagawea Series
Let’s discuss the “Sacagawea” coin designs first produced in 2000. Americans don’t like or use Dollar coins because they just never caught on. Yet, the Sacagawea Dollar is one of the most beautiful of modern coin designs.
Your author has read extensively the daily diaries written by Lewis and Clarke on their historic journey from St. Louis to the Pacific Coast. Across thousands of miles, the 45 heroic adventurers traveled including Sacagawea and my third great grandfather, Sergeant Nathaniel Pryor.
So you can see why the strong personal interest in history, Sacagawea and honoring Native Americans in coinage.
Meanwhile Back to the Coins
We find the entire series to be elegant and unique collectibles honoring Native American Heritage span all walks of life—from sports to the sciences, the Armed Forces, and more. The series attempts to honor the rich tapestry of culture, tradition, and history of Native Americans who shaped our Nation.
Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia by Charles Marion Russell. A painting of the Expedition depicting Sacagawea.
Among these treasures is the annual Native American $1 Coin, gold in color but not content. Each issue of the dollar coin pays tribute to an important Native American on its reverse side, while the obverse carries the program’s signature image of the “Sacagawea” coin design first produced in 2000.
See the entire series on the U.S. Mint website.