2004 Sacagaweas

babboonbobo2

Anyone know when these will go on sale at the mint?
I have seen pre-sales on ebay, but when I called the mint TODAY (I have read that they were to go on sale 2-18-04) to order the operator said they do not have a release date yet!

djm

The last I heard was the 2003 was the last Golden Dollar. It was supposed to be replace by an annual circulating commerative 2004 was to be MLK.

flaminio

<< <i>The last I heard was the 2003 was the last Golden Dollar. It was supposed to be replace by an annual circulating commerative 2004 was to be MLK. >>



This is not true in the slightest.

mercurynut

If its not dead already it should be!!!

MatthewBabcock

Posted: Friday February 13, 2004 6:28 PM



<< <i>The Mint's Public Affairs Officer called me back about half an hour ago so that we could discuss the sacagawea.

He confirmed the Feb 18th release date for this year's Sacs.

I asked if the Sac would meet the same fate as the SBA. He said that they would continue to be minted at these levels except for when they needed higher levels to restock the supply.

We discussed the idea of the USA moving to a coin only dollar. He said that the sacagawea was designed to be a "dual circulating issue" (both paper and coin). I asked if he was aware of any efforts currently on Capitol Hill at this time, he stated that this effort usually goes in cycles and that there weren't any at present that he was aware of.

We spent a moment discussing other countries that had moved from paper to coins, the reluctance and eventual conversion of the masses...

I wish that I would have known that he was going to return my call so that I could have had a small list of 'good' questions for him, but who would have known that the third time was the charm (third message left during the past 12 months, first call back). >>



Update for today: I just checked the Mint's website and did not find the 2004 Sac listed. They should be updating it soon. I'll call my guy at Mint back on Thurs to find out what the deal is.

Matt

dollardude

Thank you, Matt, for that post. That answers a lot of questions I had!

babboonbobo2

Matt, I did read your previous post before and that was one of the reasons I contacted the mint yesterday. If you find out please keep us updated. THANK YOU

MatthewBabcock

Hello everyone,

I just called 'my guy' at the Mint office here in DC and left a voicemail message. I hope that his call back will shed some light on their release problems.

Not stopping with that message, I called a few other numbers at the Mint. They made the decission to postpone the release of the 2004 Sacs earlier this week with no new date yet decided. One woman that I talked with wouldn't confirm why, but she didn't refute my guesses as to the Mint having problems with the quality of this year's Sacs and/or problems with the metals being used. I think her words were something like 'I think so, but I'm not sure' after I asked why.

I'm headed out the door in a few minutes, but I left my cell number and hope to have an update later tonight.

Until later,
Matt

Stooge

IMHO they have been having "Metal Problems" with these coins since 2000.

Later, Paul.

MatthewBabcock

I agree Paul... One touch and the finishing is toast... Even worse, when they come out looking bad before they are touched...

Update: There has been no response to my call to the Mint yet... I'll try again Friday...

MatthewBabcock

Update:

I just received a telephone callback from the Mint about this year's Sacagawea Dollars. She hopes to have a new release date for the bags and rolls next week.

I indicated to her that there are a lot of collectors interested in not only the release date but the production quality of these coins. She said that they have been receiving a large number of calls about them. I told her that I'm a member of a large collector's group (these boards, but not mentioned by name) with membership numbering over 12,000. I explained to her that we have a great interest (so, I may have lied, but oh well...) in knowing what's going on. I told her that since I'm in the local area (Washington DC Metro area) that I've taken the lead in contacting them. I tried to impress upon her that keeping me up to date on their status would most likely lower the number of calls that they were receiving.

Ok, so I may have stretched the truth to the Mint, but I'm trying to get answers for you.

Matt

MatthewBabcock

Update:

I just got off the phone with the US Mint about this year's Sacagawea Dollars... My weekly call.

Bottom line:
- This year's release date is now mid-March.
- The Sacagawea Dollars will continue to be minted until they are told to do otherwise by the Congress.
- This year's mintage numbers are expected to be inline with the numbers last year.
- The Mint is aware of the tarnishing problem (they used the word "aspect") of these coins, but without a Congressional mandate, they are not going to change the composition or production process to correct this.

When I asked about the cause for the delays for this year's release, they claimed that there haven't been any delays, they are just trying to work them in to the production schedule. Hmmmm... IMHO, I don't think so...

We shall see... I'll update this thread again when I have additional information.

Matt

pontiacinf

go matt!
now it was worth pushing your sac

anoldgoat

Thank you for the update Matt. Tarnishing aspect

wjd283

Good work MB.
Thanx for keeping us updated.

MatthewBabcock

Your welcome.

kranky

Coin World reports that the Mint announced sales will begin on March 29. 25-coin rolls (P or D) are $35.50 + $4.95 s/h. 2,000-coin bags (P or D) are $2,190 + $7.95 s/h.

CW also mentioned that the March 29th date is "exactly two months after originally planned."

babboonbobo2

Any NEW info from anyone?

Tootawl

I just checked the Mint's web site and found nothing.

mrpaseo

Matt, great INTEL, thank you for sharing.