The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 30, July 29, 2007, Article 40

THE REAL GOLD 'GOLDEN DOLLARS' GO ON DISPLAY

Dick Johnson forwarded this new item about the specially struck
gold Sacagawea dollars to be exhibited at the upcoming ANA
convention:

"Six months before the U.S. Mint issued the first Sacagawea dollar
coins on January 27, 2000, 12 specially-minted 22 karat gold
Sacagaweas made a launch of a very different type.

"The dozen dollars were carried in to orbit aboard the space
shuttle Columbia to commemorate the flight of Eileen Collins,
the first female U.S. astronaut to command a spaceflight.

"Originally, the Mint had planned to exhibit the gold coins
at museums to promote the release of the Sacagawea dollar and
potentially the sale of similar gold versions to the public.
The gold coins' creation however, hadn't been to regulation,
and the marketing program was canceled.

"Instead, the 12 space flown coins were moved to the Fort Knox
Bullion Depository in 2001, where they have been in storage since.

"That is, until August 10, 2007, when the U.S. Mint plans to
publicly display the dozen doubloons for the first time. The
12 gold versions of the circulating golden dollars will be
unveiled at the American Numismatic Association's World's Fair
of Money in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the largest coin show in the
nation.

"Unlike the 12 gold coins, which were minted from 9167 (half-ounce)
fine gold, the Sacagawea circulating dollars are only golden-color.
The issued coins are comprised of a three-layer clad construction:
pure copper sandwiched between and bonded to outer layers of
manganese brass."

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

[I thought the whole gold striking from the beginning was too much
of a gimmick.  The Mint should have known the striking was illegal,
but I wonder what makes it OK to exhibit them now?  If they're
illegal why were they kept and not destroyed?  If the Mint sent
the Secret Service to fetch the 'illegal' 1933 Double Eagles, why
shouldn't the Secret Service seize and destroy these fantasies?
-Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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