United States dollar coinDollar coins have been minted in the United States in both gold and silver versions. Silver dollars were minted in the United States beginning in 1794. {| align=right cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2 border=2\n|-\n| colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="goldenrod"|Golden Dollar (United States)\n|-\n|Value:\n|1.00 US dollars\n|-\n|Mass:\n|8.100 g\n|-\n|Diameter:\n|26.5 mm\n|-\n|Thickness:\n|2.00 mm\n|-\n|Edge:\n|plain\n|-\n|Composition:\n|88.5% Cu, 6% Zn,3.5% Mn, 2% Ni\n|-\n| colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="goldenrod" valign=center| Obverse\n|-\n| colspan=2 align=center |  \n|-\n|Design:\n|Sacagawea\n|-\n|Designer:\n|Glenna Goodacre\n|-\n|Design Date:\n|2000\n|-\n| colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="goldenrod"| Reverse\n|-\n|Design:\n|Eagle in flight\n|-\n|Designer:\n|Thomas D. Rogers\n|-\n|Design Date:\n|2000\n|}
The U.S. government hoped that the new issue of the Sacagawea dollar coin would be popular in order to replace the paper one dollar bill, but paper currency remains more common. Coins are more durable than bills and for highly used denominations such as $1 the wear and tear on the notes make coins more economical to produce.
The United States Mint took great care to create the coin with the same size, weight, and electromagnetic properties as the earlier Susan B. Anthony dollar, but with a golden color. Unfortunately, the selected alloy also has a tendency to blacken with tarnish, ruining the desired effect (unlike Canadian Dollar coins which retain a yellowish appearance even with wear).
The continued printing of $1 bills, along with a tendency to hoard the new dollar coins, is credited with the failure of the latest dollar coin. The U.S. Mint suspended production of Sacagawea Dollars after the 2001 minting, citing sufficient inventory. The coin continues to be minted in small circulation and proof quantities each year for sales to numismatists as of 2004.
See also United States Mint and United States coinage.
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