We often refer to the Millennium Coin and Currency Set for its American Silver Eagle. The designation makes it highly collectible. However, many neglect the other coin in the set just like they neglected it back in 2000---until it came out, and collectors noticed something. That coin has secured itself on Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest United States Modern Coins list. Authors of the fourth edition, Jeff Garrett and Scott Schechter, will lead us along with this top 40 pick.
#40 – 2000-D Sacagawea Dollar, “Millennium” Variety
Limited to 75,000, the Millennium Coinage and Currency Set featured a 2000-D Sacagawea dollar, a 2000 Silver Eagle, and a $1 note featuring a serial number beginning with 2000. Collector interest in the set, regardless of the Silver Eagle, was not high. That all changed when the set got into their hands, and they realized that the brand new Sacagawea dollar coin had a deeply reflective surface.
Struck at Denver, the $1 coin was struck on polished dies despite not being promoted as such. However, their “prooflike” appearance had collectors wanting to grab them up, eventually leading to a complete sell out from the United States Mint. Authors Garrett and Schechter reflect on the coin’s popularity, citing that the “most interesting aspect of this coin may be that the special finish, and therefore the desirability, of this coin was completely unexpected.”
This coin has gone down three spots since its first edition ranking (#37).