2017-02-04 Sat

The design themes for the 2019 and 2020 Native American dollars are “American Indians in the Space Program” and “Elizabeth Peratrovich and Alaska’s Anti-Discrimination Law” respectively. CCAC members had a discussion on 17th January to finalise the themes and design elements, focusing more on Native American contributions as a whole while keeping aside individual accomplishments. These elements would be shared with the U.S. Mint’s engraving staff and the U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program artists for developing the designs. The rendered designs will be then passed on to CCAC and the Commission of Fine Arts for review. The recommendations will be considered by the secretary of the Treasury for choosing the final designs.

The obverses will feature Sacagawea and her son, Jean-Baptiste, a design that was introduced in 2000 and continued to be featured on all other Native American $1 Coins from 2009.

American Indians have been the pioneers of space flight when NASA was established. John Herrington (Chickasaw) made three space tours on the International Space Station in 2002 and Mary Golda Ross (1908-2008) was the first female American Indian engineer. She was a part of the team which built Agena spacecraft for the Gemini and Apollo space programs. The year 2019 will also be marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon.

The Alaskan Territorial Government in 1945 passed the first anti-discrimination law in the US against the discrimination of access to public accommodations. Elizabeth Peratrovich (Tlingit) and her husband Roy fought for the natives and she was a prominent personality who helped in getting the bill passed. The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of this anti-discrimination law.

This annual coin release program which began in 2009 has a different reverse each year celebrating the achievements of the Native American community. These coins are not for general circulation and will be available in different finishes for Mint customers at a premium pricing.