You probably have one in a junk drawer. Or maybe you found it in the pocket of an old winter coat. The gold-colored 2000 Sacagawea dollar coin was supposed to change the way Americans spent money, but instead, it kind of just became a curiosity. People called it the "Golden Dollar," even though it contains exactly zero grams of gold. It’s mostly copper.
But here is the thing.
While most of these coins are just worth a dollar, a few specific versions from that first year of production are worth thousands. We aren't talking about "maybe" money. We are talking about documented, auction-house, "pay off your car" money. Most people spend them on a soda without glancing at the details. That is a massive mistake.
The 2000 Sacagawea dollar coin and the Cheerios Mystery
The United States Mint was desperate to make this coin a hit. To get the word out, they struck a deal with General Mills. They stuffed 5,500 of these new dollars into boxes of Cheerios. It was a massive marketing blitz. At the time, everyone thought they were just standard coins.
Decades later, collectors noticed something weird.
The "Cheerios Dollar" isn't the same as the ones in your pocket. If you look at the eagle on the back, the tail feathers on the Cheerios version are incredibly detailed. You can see the individual veins in the feathers. On the standard 2000 Sacagawea dollar coin that went into general circulation, those details were smoothed out. This happened because the Mint used a different, enhanced die for the promotion.
Because so few were made, a "Cheerios" 2000-P Sacagawea dollar can sell for anywhere from $5,000 to over $25,000 depending on how beat up the box was. If you find one still in the original plastic wrap from the cereal box, don't open it. Just don't. You’ve basically found a winning lottery ticket.
Why the "Golden Dollar" didn't actually take over
The government really tried. They spent millions on ads. They featured a hip, talking George Washington. They wanted us to give up the paper buck. But Americans are stubborn. We like our folding money.
🔗 Read more: Finding the Right Word That Starts With AJ for Games and Everyday Writing
Vending machines didn't always take them at first. Cashiers didn't have a slot for them in the register. People started hoarding them because they looked "special" or like real gold, which took them out of circulation and killed the momentum. Honestly, the 2000 Sacagawea dollar coin became a victim of its own design. It looked too much like a souvenir and not enough like money.
By 2002, the Mint realized the public wasn't biting. They stopped making them for general circulation and only produced them for collectors. This makes the year 2000 coins the most common ones you'll ever find in the wild, yet they remain the ones with the most profitable errors.
The Wounded Eagle and other high-value mistakes
If you don't have the Cheerios version, you should look for the "Wounded Eagle."
This is a specific die error. It looks like a raised spear or an arrow is flying right through the eagle's belly on the reverse side. It wasn't intentional. It was caused by a crack or a gouge in the die used to strike the coin. Because it’s a prominent, easy-to-see mistake, it’s highly sought after.
Then there is the "Mule." This is the holy grail of modern American numismatics.
In a literal "you had one job" moment at the Philadelphia Mint, someone paired the front of a state quarter with the back of a 2000 Sacagawea dollar coin. The result is a coin that has George Washington on one side and an eagle on the other. It’s a freak of nature. For years, people thought it was an urban legend until one was actually found in a mountain of change. These have sold for over $100,000. It is one of the most significant errors in the history of the U.S. Mint.
How to spot a real winner
You don't need a PhD in history to check your change. You just need a decent magnifying glass and a little bit of patience.
💡 You might also like: Is there actually a legal age to stay home alone? What parents need to know
- Check the tail feathers. If the eagle has distinct, crisp horizontal lines across the tail feathers, it’s a Cheerios pattern. If it’s smooth, it’s common.
- Look for the "P" mint mark. Most of the famous errors came out of Philadelphia.
- Inspect the eagle’s chest. Look for that "Wounded Eagle" line. It should be a raised, sharp line of metal, not a scratch.
- The "Mule" check. Look at both sides. If you see George Washington on a gold-colored coin, stop everything and call an expert.
The reality of "Gold" composition
It’s important to understand what you’re actually holding. The 2000 Sacagawea dollar coin is a "clad" coin. The core is pure copper. The outer layers are a mix of 77% copper, 12% zinc, 7% manganese, and 4% nickel. This specific blend gives it that brassy, golden shine.
The problem? Manganese tarnishes easily.
If these coins get wet or even just touched by oily fingers, they turn a dull, dark brown or a weird greenish-gray. This is why finding one in "Mint State" (MS) condition—meaning it looks brand new—is so important for value. A tarnished 2000 dollar coin is almost always just worth a dollar. But a pristine, "high-grade" specimen can be worth hundreds because they are surprisingly rare in perfect condition.
Glenna Goodacre and the design legacy
The woman on the coin isn't just a generic face. She was a real person, though we don't have any actual paintings of the historical Sacagawea. The artist, Glenna Goodacre, used a 22-year-old Shoshone college student named Randy'L He-dow Teton as a model.
Goodacre was paid $5,000 for her design. But she didn't want a check.
She requested her payment in 2000 Sacagawea dollar coins. The Mint obliged, but they did something special for her. They struck her 5,000 coins on specially polished blanks with a high-pressure strike. These "Goodacre Presentation Dollars" have a distinct, proof-like finish. They were later independently certified and sold to collectors. If you find one that looks "too shiny" or almost like a mirror, you might have one of the Goodacre coins.
What to do if you think you found something
Don't go to a pawn shop.
📖 Related: The Long Haired Russian Cat Explained: Why the Siberian is Basically a Living Legend
Pawn shops are great for some things, but they aren't the place for rare coins. They will offer you a fraction of the value. Instead, you want to look at "The Big Two" grading services: PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) or NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company).
Getting a coin graded costs money. You have to pay a membership fee and a per-coin fee. It usually isn't worth it for a standard 2000 Sacagawea dollar coin. However, if you see the "Wounded Eagle" or the "Cheerios" feathers, the $50-$100 you spend on grading could turn into thousands of dollars in profit. A certified coin is much easier to sell on eBay or at a specialized auction house like Heritage Auctions.
Actionable steps for your 2000 Sacagawea dollar coin
First, separate your coins by mint mark. The "P" is Philadelphia, and the "D" is Denver. Most of the high-value errors are "P" coins.
Next, use a 10x jeweler’s loupe. You can get one for ten bucks online. Look specifically at the reverse (the eagle side). Compare your coin to high-resolution photos of the "Cheerios Dollar" available on sites like PCGS CoinFacts.
If you find a coin that looks unusual—maybe the rim is extra thick, or it's missing part of the design—put it in a protective plastic flip or a small envelope immediately. Do not clean it. Cleaning a coin with polish or even soap and water can destroy its numismatic value. Collectors want the original "skin" of the coin, even if it's a bit dark.
Finally, check the edges. The 2000 series has a smooth edge. If you find one with lettering on the edge, you’ve actually found a later Presidential Dollar or a Native American series coin from 2009 or later. These are often confused with the original 2000 Sacagawea dollar coin but are entirely different.
The odds of finding a $100,000 "Mule" are low, but people find "Wounded Eagles" and "Cheerios" variants every single year. It’s worth the five minutes of squinting. Worse case, you’re still holding a dollar. Best case, you’ve found the most expensive thing in your house.