Space-flown Sacagawea dollar coins fetch over $500K at auction
Seven $ 1 pieces that once went to space sold today in an online auction. Sale prices varied from $ 120,000 to $ 550,000. Officially designated in dollars of 2000-W Sacagawea, the pieces were struck in 22 carat gold in the late 1990s. In July 1999, they traveled nearly 2 million miles in orbit aboard the Columbia space shuttle. Since then, they have sat in storage at the deposit of Fort Knox Bullion. This is the first time that parts have been available for the ownership of the public.
“Lot 10006 and Lot 10007 each sold for an amazing $ 550,000 and established new records in several categories,” shared the auction house in a press release. “These are now tied like the most precious American gold dollars struck since the civil war and the federal most precious spaces sold at auction. These are also the most precious dollars of Sacagawea never sold, even exceeding the files of the rare district of Sacagawea. ”
According to the Professional Classification Service (PCGS), the Dollars of Sacagawea in gold 22 karats at 22 karats are classified n ° 5 among the 100 best modern pieces. They were originally struck as part of an effort to celebrate gold coins which were published from 2000 to 2008. They also celebrated the first flight of space shuttle under the command of a woman (colonel of the American Air Force Eileen Collins).
The parts were part of an initial draw of 39 pieces produced in 22 carat gold and struck with the opposite design motif “engraved with tail lights”. This special inverted design was only used on the first parts of the series and was modified in a less detailed design shortly after the start of production.
According to Stack Bowers galleries, only the 12 best strikes were selected for the flight to the Columbia space shuttle and seven have been sold at auction today. The United States currency has confirmed that the five remaining pieces will be archived and definitively out of reach for collectors.
[ Related: Hikers discover nearly 600 gold coins dating back to 1808. ]
“We are extremely honored to present a historic selection of rarities again on behalf of the United States currency,” said Bowers Galleries de Stack, Brian Kendrella. “These dollars of 22 Karat Gold Sacagawea to fly in space transcend any unique collection category and are presented as real American treasures.”
The parts of the Sacagawea dollar which were in high traffic in the early 2000s had a portrait of Sacagawea on the obverse or “heads” side. Sacagawea was a young Shoshone woman, who helped the historic expedition of Lewis and Clark from 1804 to 1806. Unlike other pieces, his portrait looks directly at the user. The artist Glenna Goodacre included the big dark eyes attributed to Sacagawea in the legends of Shoshone. Goodacre used the woman Shoshone Randy’l He-Dow Teton as a model. She also carries her son at a young age, Jean Baptiste. Sacagawea was probably six months pregnant when she joined the Lewis and Clark expedition and gave birth at the start of the trip.
The opposite or “tail” side of the room presents an booming eagle surrounded by 17 stars, representing each state of the union at the time of the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804.
More offers, reviews and purchasing guides
