Believe it or not, one of the most valuable modern coins in the U.S. is still slipping through people’s hands in everyday change. It’s the Sacagawea Dollar, and one rare version of it has amazed coin collectors by selling for as much as $12,000 at auction—even though it started out in a very ordinary way.
This coin might look like just another golden dollar, but a special error version from the year 2000 could be worth a small fortune. If you know what details to check, you might be holding one without even realizing it.
What Is the Sacagawea Dollar?
The Sacagawea dollar was first released in the year 2000 to take the place of the Susan B. Anthony dollar. It honors Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman who helped Lewis and Clark on their journey through the American West. On the front of the coin, you’ll see her holding her baby son, Jean Baptiste. The back of the coin shows a flying eagle.
The coin has a golden look because it’s made with a mix of metals, including manganese and brass. Even though the coin has a unique style, it didn’t become very popular for everyday use—but that doesn’t mean some rare ones aren’t still out there waiting to be found.
Why One Version Is Worth $12,000
The rare version that’s getting so much attention is known as the 2000 “Cheerios” Sacagawea Dollar. This name comes from a promotion General Mills did in 2000. They placed about 5,500 of these special coins inside Cheerios cereal boxes to help promote the new dollar coin.
Although most of these coins look just like normal Sacagawea dollars, the “Cheerios” coins have a unique design on the back. The eagle’s tail feathers are more detailed and have clear, sharp lines that are not found on the regular coin.
These were early versions, called “pattern coins,” and they’re now considered very rare. A top-condition coin has sold for up to $12,000, and there could still be some out there in change jars or collections, unnoticed.
How to Tell If You Have a Cheerios Dollar
It takes a careful eye to spot this valuable version. Here’s what you should look out for:
Date: The coin must be from the year 2000.
Design Details: Look closely at the eagle’s tail feathers on the back. The Cheerios version has tail feathers with more space between them and sharper lines.
Finish: These are regular coins, not proof versions, so they won’t have that mirror-like shine.
Condition: The better the condition, the higher the value. Coins in mint state are worth a lot more.
If you think you’ve found one, have it checked by a professional coin grading company like PCGS or NGC before trying to sell it.
Could You Still Find One in Your Change?
Yes—these coins might still be floating around in change. Many people who got them in cereal boxes didn’t open the packaging, or they used them without knowing they were special.
Even today, people sometimes find 2000 Sacagawea dollars in regular circulation. While most are just normal coins, there’s always a small chance that one of them could be a valuable Cheerios version.
Other Valuable Sacagawea Dollar Errors
The Cheerios dollar isn’t the only one to watch out for. There are other versions that collectors look for:
2000-P “Wounded Eagle”: This error coin has a raised line that cuts through the eagle’s body on the back, looking like a wound. These can go for hundreds of dollars, depending on condition.
2000-P Mule Error: This is a super rare error where the front of the coin has George Washington’s face from a quarter, and the back shows the Sacagawea eagle. Only a few of these are known, and they can be worth over $100,000.
Final Thoughts: Always Check Your Change
You don’t need to be a coin expert to find a valuable one. Just paying attention to the coins you get back in change could lead to an amazing discovery.
So next time you get a golden dollar from a vending machine or as change at a store, take a second look. If it’s from the year 2000, check those tail feathers carefully. That plain-looking coin might actually be the rare $12,000 Cheerios Sacagawea Dollar that’s still moving through the U.S. economy.
FAQs
Q: How many Cheerios Sacagawea Dollars were made?
A: Around 5,500 were put inside cereal boxes in 2000. Only some of them had the rare detailed feathers that make them valuable.
Q: Are regular 2000 Sacagawea dollars valuable?
A: Most are worth just one dollar unless they are in very good shape or have a special minting error.
Q: How can I find out if my coin is rare?
A: You can send it to coin grading companies like PCGS or NGC. They can check it and give you a report on its value.
Q: Where can I sell a rare coin?
A: Rare coins can be sold through coin dealers, at auctions, or on websites like eBay—but make sure it’s been checked and graded first.
Keep checking your change—your next dollar coin might be worth way more than you think!
