Revised: Unidentified planchet used to strike Sacagawea $1 coin
American Numismatic Association (ANA) Authenticator Brian Silliman has verified that a 2000 Sacagawea $1 coin, struck on a hollow-center planchet that most likely was produced at the Royal Canadian Mint, is genuine.
“This is one of the most interesting specimens I have inspected all year,” Silliman says. “Because of its unique usage and qualities, this error piece probably is worth up to $10,000.” He believes that the hollow-center planchet originally was intended for the outer ring of a bimetallic coin.
The ANA Authentication Bureau received the silver-colored piece from Robert Goss of Bryantown, Maryland, who discovered it in one of two mint rolls of Sacagawea dollars he purchased for his grandchildren. An amateur collector, Goss thought the planchet was intended for a bimetallic Canadian $2 coin, but, after measuring it, he realized it was significantly different. He sent the specimen to a coin dealer, who urged him to forward it to the ANA for authentication.
According to some reports, the Royal Canadian Mint and its Winnipeg, Manitoba, circulating coin production facility have helped the United States Mint prepare planchets for the golden Sacagawea $1 coin. Canadian minters were asked to help meet the demand for strike-ready $1 blanks to be struck at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. Silliman believes that because Canada handles the circulating coinage production needs for a number of countries, there is a strong possibility that Goss’ Sacagawea error piece was struck on an unknown world coin planchet from the Royal Canadian Mint. The blank probably was mixed in with regulation golden dollar planchets and sent to the United States, where it was struck and placed into circulation.
The Denver Mint already has reported striking several 2000-D Sacagawea dollars on outer rings intended for foreign, bi-metallic coins. The piece sent to the ANA for authentication is one of only a handful known to exist.
Goss, who began collecting silver coins and Indian Head cents many years ago, never thought he would come across such an unusual numismatic item. The piece has been sent to Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, the ANA’s official grading service, for encapsulation, after which Goss intends to put the piece on the market.
Originally Release Date: August 22, 2001
ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9872
Email: pr@money.org