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Space flown 2000-W Sacagawea Dollars in 22 Karat gold are hitting the market

Looks like Stack’s Bowers Galleries has been chosen by the United States Mint to auction off 7 of the 12 space flown 2000-W Sacagawea Dollars struck in 22 Karat gold aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1999.

Coins are encapsulated by PCGS with special labels. Just like the 1933 St. Gaudens, the buyer will pay $1 to monetize the coin as legal tender upon sale.

Comments

  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 36,029 ✭✭✭✭✭

    don't get them reholdered!

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,812 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Fascinating!

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • cmerlo1cmerlo1 Posts: 7,963 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 27, 2025 11:00AM

    We lived in Dallas in July 1999, and watched the Space Shuttle Columbia carrying them fly over during re-entry while it was carrying them. That still remains one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Eileen Collins became the first female shuttle commander on that flight, and I'd met her at NASA several years earlier.

    You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
  • renomedphysrenomedphys Posts: 3,838 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Cool, but still modern bullion. Maybe that’s your thing 🤷🏻‍♂️

  • CregCreg Posts: 882 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 27, 2025 10:09AM

    Stratospheric prices? Turds from the space program bring more at auction money than everything I have.

  • FlyingAlFlyingAl Posts: 3,971 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Having that article without images of the coins is criminal.

  • Coins3675Coins3675 Posts: 462 ✭✭✭
    edited August 27, 2025 10:12AM

    Does anyone know why the mint picks Stacks to auction their stuff off because Stacks did the dawn at dusk bullion eagles to.

  • RaufusRaufus Posts: 6,955 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Creg said:
    Stratospheric prices? Turds from the space program bring more at auction money than everything I have.

    So does one single baseball card. For that matter, some "modern art" that many think looks like a child did it brings hundreds of milliions. Some people have a ton to put into this stuff.

    Land of the Free because of the Brave!
  • braddickbraddick Posts: 24,869 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @FlyingAl said:
    Having that article without images of the coins is criminal.

    peacockcoins

  • SametsSamets Posts: 219 ✭✭✭

    @braddick said:

    @FlyingAl said:
    Having that article without images of the coins is criminal.

    That's not the gold one ;)

  • braddickbraddick Posts: 24,869 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @FlyingAl said:
    Having that article without images of the coins is criminal.

    @Samets said:

    @braddick said:

    @FlyingAl said:
    Having that article without images of the coins is criminal.

    That's not the gold one ;)

    :*

    peacockcoins

  • Rc5280Rc5280 Posts: 673 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Also of note - the 8th coin up for auction is the "First Struck" 2025-W Sac Gold. This auction will be interesting.
    Here's your pic of a 2000-W coin, it was attached to SBG's email notification that came out yesterday...


    https://mailchi.mp/stacksbowers/sept-2025-space-coins-news-release-15613504?e=7a3e38589c

  • MWallaceMWallace Posts: 4,358 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Raufus said:

    @Creg said:
    Stratospheric prices? Turds from the space program bring more at auction money than everything I have.

    So does one single baseball card. For that matter, some "modern art" that many think looks like a child did it brings hundreds of milliions. Some people have a ton to put into this stuff.

    Like a banana duct taped to a wall. LOL

  • MWallaceMWallace Posts: 4,358 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 27, 2025 12:17PM

    Halfway down on the left. @CaptHenway with all 12 struck.

    smalldollars.com/dollar/page20b.html

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,812 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Rc5280 said:
    Also of note - the 8th coin up for auction is the "First Struck" 2025-W Sac Gold. This auction will be interesting.
    Here's your pic of a 2000-W coin, it was attached to SBG's email notification that came out yesterday...


    https://mailchi.mp/stacksbowers/sept-2025-space-coins-news-release-15613504?e=7a3e38589c

    Not very clear images of the tail feathers on the press release photo, but you can see one characteristic of that generation pattern design. Just below the eagle leg, there is a fairly strong raised feather/ feather group that ends in a shallow hook. It is not on the regular issue design.

    Here is a good view of that "hook" from Coin Community.com

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,812 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Normal reverse design, on a 2000-S Proof from Coin Facts

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 36,890 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @renomedphys said:
    Cool, but still modern bullion. Maybe that’s your thing 🤷🏻‍♂️

    There are only 12 struck. That's almost like calling the 33 DE "bullion"

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, evn when irrefutably accurate.

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,812 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Blowup of normal tail feathers on 2000-S Proof from Coin Facts.

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • RaufusRaufus Posts: 6,955 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Any guesses what these will bring?

    I have no idea.

    Land of the Free because of the Brave!
  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 36,890 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Raufus said:
    Any guesses what these will bring?

    I have no idea.

    6 figures definitely. Can they get to 7?

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, evn when irrefutably accurate.

  • FlyingAlFlyingAl Posts: 3,971 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @Raufus said:
    Any guesses what these will bring?

    I have no idea.

    6 figures definitely. Can they get to 7?

    I don’t think they’ll hit 7, despite the fact that these are probably the most historic modern rarities that exist.

  • dcarrdcarr Posts: 9,153 ✭✭✭✭✭

    So are the 12 gold 2000 Sacagawea Dollars the only ones with a "W" mint mark ?

  • jt88jt88 Posts: 3,215 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I would love to get one but I don't think I can afford it.

  • NJCoinNJCoin Posts: 3,176 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Coins3675 said:
    Does anyone know why the mint picks Stacks to auction their stuff off because Stacks did the dawn at dusk bullion eagles to.

    Because they know what they are doing, have an international reach, and obtain top dollar for the Mint?

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 36,890 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @dcarr said:
    So are the 12 gold 2000 Sacagawea Dollars the only ones with a "W" mint mark ?

    They are the only ones made of gold. 😉

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, evn when irrefutably accurate.

  • fathomfathom Posts: 1,906 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow just wow.

  • FlyingAlFlyingAl Posts: 3,971 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @dcarr said:
    So are the 12 gold 2000 Sacagawea Dollars the only ones with a "W" mint mark ?

    They are the only ones made of gold. 😉

    22k gold. The 2025-Ws are 24k I believe.

  • Mr Lindy Mr Lindy Posts: 1,272 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 27, 2025 3:28PM

    I thought these "2000W" 22K Saq $ issues had 39 minted & 27 destroyed were all struck at Philly but with W on obverse die instead of "P".

    I am confused by the photography of 2000P in gold above.

    Ai ?

    Here's a couple Saqs, one golden and one 24k

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 36,890 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @FlyingAl said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @dcarr said:
    So are the 12 gold 2000 Sacagawea Dollars the only ones with a "W" mint mark ?

    They are the only ones made of gold. 😉

    22k gold. The 2025-Ws are 24k I believe.

    I'm not sure that matters. The dates are different and they are the only 2000s made of gold. Would assume care about a mintmark?

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, evn when irrefutably accurate.

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 36,890 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Mr Lindy said:
    I thought these "2000W" 22K Saq $ issues had 39 minted & 22 destroyed were all struck at Philly but with W on obverse die instead of "P".

    I am confused by the photography of 2000P in gold above.

    Ai ?

    That's not gold, it's "golden".

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, evn when irrefutably accurate.

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,812 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @dcarr said:
    So are the 12 gold 2000 Sacagawea Dollars the only ones with a "W" mint mark ?

    Allegedly, though that assumes that the Mint is telling the truth.

    FWIW, I once saw an IMAGE of a 2000-W Sacagawea with "FIVE DOLLARS" as the denomination rather than "ONE DOLLAR," but it may just have been an artist's conception rather than an actual struck piece. I believe that it was a concept piece for a possible half ounce gold coin to be offered to the public if approved by Congress. Probably never existed as a struck coin, but I do not know that to be a fact.

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • The_Dinosaur_ManThe_Dinosaur_Man Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @CaptHenway said:

    @dcarr said:
    So are the 12 gold 2000 Sacagawea Dollars the only ones with a "W" mint mark ?

    Allegedly, though that assumes that the Mint is telling the truth.

    FWIW, I once saw an IMAGE of a 2000-W Sacagawea with "FIVE DOLLARS" as the denomination rather than "ONE DOLLAR," but it may just have been an artist's conception rather than an actual struck piece. I believe that it was a concept piece for a possible half ounce gold coin to be offered to the public if approved by Congress. Probably never existed as a struck coin, but I do not know that to be a fact.

    I recall seeing something about that too. I think that endeavor was abandoned after Congress or whoever questioned the Mint's ability to sell the dollar piece in gold.

    Also to respond to some of the other comments, the 2000-W coin is the only Sacagawea struck with the W mintmark. There is the 2015-W special edition coin that is technically a Native American dollar.


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  • SametsSamets Posts: 219 ✭✭✭

    @The_Dinosaur_Man said:

    @CaptHenway said:

    @dcarr said:
    So are the 12 gold 2000 Sacagawea Dollars the only ones with a "W" mint mark ?

    Allegedly, though that assumes that the Mint is telling the truth.

    FWIW, I once saw an IMAGE of a 2000-W Sacagawea with "FIVE DOLLARS" as the denomination rather than "ONE DOLLAR," but it may just have been an artist's conception rather than an actual struck piece. I believe that it was a concept piece for a possible half ounce gold coin to be offered to the public if approved by Congress. Probably never existed as a struck coin, but I do not know that to be a fact.

    I recall seeing something about that too. I think that endeavor was abandoned after Congress or whoever questioned the Mint's ability to sell the dollar piece in gold.

    Also to respond to some of the other comments, the 2000-W coin is the only Sacagawea struck with the W mintmark. There is the 2015-W special edition coin that is technically a Native American dollar.

    2025 gold coin is struck with a W.

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