The U.S. Mint wants to put a design representing Native agriculture on the back of the Sacagawea $1 coin.
Congress authorized a new back for the coin to honor Native Americans and their contributions to the United States. The law cites Indian leaders and significant Indian events as potential designs.
Instead of going that route, the U.S. Mint presented a narrative around the theme of Native agriculture to a citizens advisory committee that will make recommendations on the design. The final decision is supposed to be made by the Treasury Secretary in consultation with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the House Congressional Native American Caucus, the National Congress of American Indians, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the advisory committee.
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Nebraska) lobbied to have Ponca Chief Standing Bear placed on the back. In 1879, Standing Bear won a landmark case that treated Indians as individuals with legal rights.
Get the Story:Standing Bear won't be on Sacagawea coin in 2009 (The Lincoln Journal Star 4/24) Get the Bill:
H.R.2358 | S.585 Related Stories:
Native American $1 Coin Act signed into law (9/24)
Bill that changes Sacagawea dollar sent to Bush (09/05)
House passes Native American One Dollar Coin Act (06/13)
