2000-P $1 Sacagawea, VIP Strike SP

The U.S. Mint held special First Strike Ceremonies at the Philadelphia Mint (November 18, 1999) and the Denver Mint (February 25, 2000), There were special invited guests and attendees in attendance at each event. The Mint had a special slow speed, high strength medal press set up at each event with specially polished chrome plated dies to strike special Sacagawea Dollars for anyone in attendance who wanted one. The model used for the obverse (Randy’L Hedow Teton) was in attendance at the Philadelphia ceremony and actually pushed the button to strike each coin for all in attendance who wanted a coin. There were no official mintage records for the coins struck at the Philadelphia ceremony. However, mint employees validate that less than 600 of these special VIP coins were struck at the Philadelphia ceremony. The Denver ceremony was less publicized with much less attendance. There was an official documented mintage of only 120 coins at the Denver ceremony.

Obverse Description

Portrait of Sacagawea with child in a papoose with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST in the left field. LIBERTY centered at the top and the date and mint mark in the lower right field.

Reverse Description

A flying eagle, framed by 13 stars, soars with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM in the left-center of the design. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR frame the periphery.

Source: Bowers