Why did the real gold Sacs go to the moon?

basestealer · January 30, 2007 6:17AM

Anyone know the reasoning behind this?

19Lyds · January 30, 2007 6:24AM

So they could get "Moon Money" for them of course!

Actually, they didn't go to the moon, just into outer space on the Space Shuttle Columbia.

Link

Dennis88 · January 30, 2007 6:25AM

Marketing trick to raise interest from the general public for the modern products of the mint, including the new sac dollar...

Dennis

basestealer · January 30, 2007 6:25AM

lol
Sometimes I wonder if the people at the mint are all there.

Gemineye · January 30, 2007 6:31AM

Take me to your Sackies.........

BECOKA · January 30, 2007 6:33AM

Wow, I wish they would distribute those instead of what we have now.

JJM · January 30, 2007 9:57AM

To the Moon Alice, To the Moon !!!!!

Mercury10c · January 30, 2007 10:34AM

I wish I had a gold sack

ScarsdaleCoin · January 30, 2007 10:47AM

On July 23, 1999, twelve 22-karat gold Sacagawea Dollars soared into space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.

Appropriately, the Columbia was guided by it's first female commander, Eileen Collins.

The mint had announced that 39 of the 22-karat gold versions of the Sacagawea Dollar had been struck in June 1999. These coins were dated 2000 and carried the "W" mint mark, indicating that they were struck at the mint's West Point (N.Y.) facility. They were struck on 27mm planchets made of .9167 fine gold.

These are the same planchets used to strike the half-ounce gold American Eagle bullion coins. After picking out the best strikes, all but 12 of the dollars were destroyed. These twelve were placed aboard the space shuttle Columbia for their journey into space.

Upon their return they were to be displayed at various museums throughout the country. The Mint had plans to strike these gold versions for collectors either with the One Dollar denomination or the Five Dollar denomination. After public outcry, due to the Mint's lack of authority to arbitrarily strike these gold coins, the plan was abandoned. To this day, the gold coins have not been displayed in any museum and are presumed to still be in a Mint vault.

UPDATE: In September 2001, it was reported by the numismatic press that these pieces had been transported to the Fort Knox (Kentucky) Gold Bullion Depository. This move was directed by Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore. The move was made on August 30, 2001.

sonoranmonsoon · January 30, 2007 10:53AM

I believe it was because no one on Earth wanted them, so they were testing new markets. Seriously, I believe it was a simple advertising ploy to get the public to notice the coins. I think it got them a headine or two for a couple of days, then everyone forgot.

CarlWohlforth · January 30, 2007 11:19AM

<<I believe it was because no one on Earth wanted them, so they were testing new markets. Seriously, I believe it was a simple advertising ploy to get the public to notice the coins. I think it got them a headine or two for a couple of days, then everyone forgot.>>

Could be.

Anyway, it is now. And I would like to own one of those 12!!!!!

Coxe · January 30, 2007 11:36AM

This is why.....

Moose1913 · January 30, 2007 11:51AM

CaptHenway · January 30, 2007 12:34PM

Because the Director of the Mint at that time, Philip Diehl, was rather arrogant and he thought he could do anything he wanted to. He was wrong.
TD

BobaFett72 · January 30, 2007 12:38PM

"Appropriately, the Columbia was guided by it's first female commander, Eileen Collins. "

would it not have made more sense to have the mission lead by a Native American princess, perhaps a greeter from Mohegan Sun?

sinin1 · January 30, 2007 2:13PM

because they got mailed by USPS to Ft Knox

Type2 · January 30, 2007 2:28PM

So no one will slab it.

19Lyds · January 30, 2007 2:39PM

<< <i>Seriously, I believe it was a simple advertising ploy to get the public to notice the coins. I think it got them a headine or two for a couple of days, then everyone forgot. >>

Well, it didn't work for me because I cannot specifically remember when this happened! I only knew about it from my exposure (

) from this forum!

Dabigkahuna · January 30, 2007 3:54PM

What ever happened to the two rolls of silver dimes that Gus Grissom took up in the Mercury shot?

I think I have some silver around here somewhere that was in space also? Kind of looked like bird shot if I remember?

Animalkeeper · January 30, 2007 10:56PM

I believe it was because no one on Earth wanted them

Rodius · January 30, 2007 11:19PM

mmmmmmmm
1913 Liberty Nickel
1933 $20 Gold
1964 Peace $
2000-W Sacagawea Gold $

I wonder if one will ever make it out??

Writersblock · January 31, 2007 7:24AM

<< <i>What ever happened to the two rolls of silver dimes that Gus Grissom took up in the Mercury shot? >>

After the capsule was recovered from the bottom of the ocean, some of the dimes turned up during the cleanup of the capsule. They were eventually returned to Grissom's widow. Some of them are displayed with the capsule, I think the family still retains some of them, and I believe a few have been auctioned off. I think in a space memoribilia auction.

Bochiman · January 31, 2007 8:16AM

<< <i>"Appropriately, the Columbia was guided by it's first female commander, Eileen Collins. "

would it not have made more sense to have the mission lead by a Native American princess, perhaps a greeter from Mohegan Sun?

>>

Or, just the best qualified? If I'm trusting my life in going to space, or any travel, I want the most qualified and best person taking me there. I don't care if it is male, female, trall, short, etc. Too much political correctness BS spewed out.

I do wonder, however, if the mint will ever sell 5-10 of them and if so, what prices they get.
I can image deep pocket collectors paying big money for one of them.

DubbleDee · January 31, 2007 11:55AM

After public outcry, due to the Mint's lack of authority to arbitrarily strike these gold coins, the plan was abandoned.

What was the public outcry about, and why would they even care?

Why did the real gold Sacs go to the moon?

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