The Sacagawea Dollar started its history in 2000 following the 1 dollar coin act from 1997 because the government wanted to replace the Susan B. Anthony dollar.
Being very similar to the 25-cent coin in size and feeling, the old coin was not popular among people.
Creating the new 2000-P coin, the Mint used a special golden color and a smooth edge for better identification.
The Philadelphia Mint (P) made the first coins of this series in 2000 using a very large production scale.
Being the most common year, it still has many technical errors and experimental versions having a high 2000 P Sacagawea dollar value for collectors.
The manganese in the layers gives the coin its golden shine after the minting process.
However, being chemically unstable, this metal changes color quickly when touching water or skin, often creating dark spots on the 2000-P coins.
Mintage Statistics and Distribution
The Philadelphia Mint produced a huge number of coins in 2000 to meet the high demand of the public.
- Total 2000-P Mintage: 767,140,000 coins.
- Comparison (2000-D): 518,916,000 coins.
- Total 2000 Volume: More than 1.2 billion pieces.
Having such a massive production, standard 2000-P coins in MS-65 condition usually cost only their face value. The real value belongs to coins with high grades (MS-67 and higher) or special stamp versions.
Cheerios Dollar Variety (FS-902)
This is the most important numismatic category for the 2000-P dollar. In January 2000, General Mills put a free 2000 cent in 10 million boxes of Cheerios cereal. Every 2000th box also had a Sacagawea dollar, distributing 5,500 such coins in total.
Technical Differences
For a long time, people thought these were normal 2000-P coins. However, numismatist Tom DeLorey discovered in 2005 the use of experimental reverse stamps for these coins.
- Tail Details: The tail feathers have clear, strong lines. On standard coins, these lines do not exist, making the feathers look flat.
- Rarity: Experts confirmed only a few hundred coins from the original 5,500 pieces. Many people spent them as normal dollars.
Market Value
- MS-67: $5,000 – $8,000.
- MS-68: $10,000 – $15,000.
- Some sales were higher than $25,000 for perfect coins.
Wounded Eagle Variety (FS-401)
A broken stamp caused this version, and it is not a change in the original design.
Identification
On the back of the coin, specifically on the eagle’s chest, two parallel lines exist. Looking like an arrow or a wound, these lines gave the coin its name.
- Origin: This happened because a small object hit the stamp or the stamp surface broke during the fast minting process.
- Rarity: Being more common than the Cheerios Dollar, it is still very popular among collectors.
Price Information
- MS-64: $250 – $350.
- MS-66: $500 – $700.
- MS-67: $1,500+.
Mule Error: 2000-P Sacagawea/State Quarter
This is one of the most famous mistakes in the history of the US Mint. It happened because the Mint used the front side of a 25-cent Washington coin and the back side of a Sacagawea dollar together.
Technical Data
- Front: Text “United States of America”, “Quarter Dollar”, and Washington’s face.
- Back: Flying eagle and “One Dollar” text.
- Metal: Made on the golden dollar material.
- Quantity: Only 19 coins exist today. Most of them belong to private collectors.
The price for this coin at auctions is between $100,000 and $200,000 depending on the quality.
Presentation and Goodacre Finish Samples
A separate category of 2000-P coins exists having a very special surface treatment.
Goodacre Presentation Dollars
Artist Glenna Goodacre received her payment for the design in the form of 5,000 dollar coins. The Mint made them using special materials and stamps, creating a matte finish.
- Identification: These coins have a specific look and special certification labels.
- Price: Usually between $500 and $1,500 for one coin.
Sheldon Grading Scale for 2000-P
Because the number of coins is very high, the value of a normal coin depends only on its grade.
- MS-60 – MS-63: Normal condition with many marks from the bag. Price: $1.
- MS-64: Good shine with some scratches. Price: $2 – $5.
- MS-65 (Gem BU): High quality with few damages. Price: $10 – $20.
- MS-66: Very clean fields and great details. Price: $30 – $50.
- MS-67: An excellent coin, being rare for such a big production. Price: $80 – $150.
- MS-68: A very rare condition. Price can be $3,000 – $5,000.
- MS-69: Only a few pieces exist. The price is more than $15,000.
Factors Affecting Condition and Patina
The 2000-P material changes in specific ways:
- Milk Spots: White spots appearing because of cleaning liquids on the metal before minting.
- Rainbow Patina: Sometimes the manganese metal changes to bright colors like blue or pink. Collectors pay more for these coins.
- Dark Oxidation: Most coins from daily use become brown or black, losing their collector value.
Market Condition and Investment Potential
The market for the 2000-P dollar is stable. Most sales include:
- MS-67+ Coins: Constant demand from people wanting the best sets.
- Searching for Cheerios Dollar: People regularly check old coins, hoping to find the experimental back side.
- Mint Errors: Errors like double strikes or missing metal layers are very valuable.
Production Timeline and Changes in 2000
At the start of 2000, the production worked at maximum speed. The Mint made the first coins at the end of 1999, using the 2000 date. The Philadelphia Mint used different types of stamps. Moving from the detailed tail (Cheerios) to the simple tail very quickly, the Mint probably worried about the thin details breaking too fast during use.
Stamp Problems
Making 767 million coins, the Mint needed thousands of stamps. An analysis from the free coin scanner app shows how stamps became old:
- Letters becoming less clear.
- The coin surface looking like an orange skin.
- The edge (rim) becoming thicker. Coins made with new stamps have a sharp look and deep shine, being a critical factor for an MS-68 grade.
| Condition | 2000-P | 2000-P Cheerios | 2000-P Wounded Eagle |
| MS-63 | $1.50 | $2,500 | $150 |
| MS-65 | $15 | $5,500 | $400 |
| MS-67 | $110 | $12,000 | $1,800 |
| MS-68 | $3,500 | $25,000+ | $5,000+ |
These prices are only estimates for the current market, actual values change depending on the specific auction or buyer.
Rarity Compared to Other Years
Comparing to the 2002–2008 years, which the Mint did not make for general use, the 2000-P coin seems very common.
However, being both common and having hidden rarities, this year is very special.
A person buying a bag of 2000-P coins pays for the metal value, but they also get a chance to find the FS-902 variety, costing more than thousands of normal coins.
Authentication Methods
Because of high prices, some people make fake coins by drawing feathers or lines on the eagle.
- Coin Value Checker Free: Real details on the Cheerios coin have the same metal look as the rest of the coin. Fake lines have marks from tools.
- Chemical Analysis: This helps to see the real manganese layer, distinguishing it from fake gold paint used to trick buyers.
Conclusion
The 2000-P Sacagawea dollar is a very important object for studying modern American coins. Its value is not equal, going from one dollar to prices of a small house. Knowing the small details on the back side and understanding the stamp wear at the Philadelphia Mint is the key to successful collecting.