Posted 5 years ago
Terry_2019
(57 items)
2000 P Sacagawea Dollar : ¿¿¿"Cheerios Dollar" ???
Boldy Detailed Tail Feathers
Golden Dollar
Mintage: 5,500 Minted at: Philadelphia
Designer - Engraver: Glenna Goodacre Metal Composition: 88.5% Copper - 6% Zinc - 3.5% Manganese - 2% Nickel
Diameter: 26.5 mm Mass / Weight: 8.1 grams
Please explain “Cheerios Dollar” - I’ve not heard that term.
This is another very rare variety of the 2000 P Sacagawea Dollar - known as the "Cheerios Dollar". The story behind this coin is one of the most interesting of all US coin discoveries.
In late 1999 and early 2000 - The US Mint was working with businesses such as Walmart and Sam's Club to help promote and distribute the new 2000 "golden" Sacagawea Dollar coins. The General Mills cereal company also began participating in the program by putting a year 2000 Sacagawea dollar in 1 of every 2000 boxes of Cheerios cereal.
Numismatist Tom DeLorey examined one of the examples of the new Sacagawea coin in Fall of 1999 before the general release of the coin. He noticed what he thought was only 12 tail feathers on the eagle on this the example coin and also noticed that the coins for general circulation looked like they had 13 tail feathers on the eagle. Years later in 2005 - the designer of the reverse of the coin (Tom Rogers) explained that the eagle always had 12 feathers but the appearance of the feathers were changed slightly. In fact - It turns out that the earlier coins from 1999 were actually pattern coins which had more highly detailed tail feathers!
Tom Delorey had a theory that General Mills needed to have these Sacagawea coins early in Fall of 1999 so that the coins could be placed in special holders and put in Cheerios cereal boxes so they could be distributed to grocery stores early in 2000. This would make perfect sense due to the fact that the US Mint would have had to use the 1999 pattern design to produce those coins early before the design changed. As it turns out - most (if not all) 2000 Sacagawea Dollars that were placed in cereal boxes are actually all pattern coins - now known as "Cheerios Dollars" - with the boldly detailed tail feathers!
It's very likely that people found these coins in their cereal and they either went directly into circulation or they were tossed into a "souvenir" drawer or trinket box at home! These coins are worth hundreds of dollars in uncirculated condition. If the coin is still in original packaging or well taken care of - It is highly recommend that these coins be sent to a professional grading service. High grade coins in MS-67 or MS-68 grade are worth $10000 up to over $30000 each! It is estimated that only 5500 of these coins exists but no one knows for sure.
Thank you for that explanation so quickly!
I never bought Cheerios so I totally missed out on finding one of those coins. Even if I had found one, I would have spent it without thinking that it could be a valuable collectors’ item someday.
I did not eat cheerios either, this coin was given to me by the laundry machine!!! lol, thank you for your comment!
But unless you happened to keep the prize dollar from the cereal unopened, just as you found it, there’s no special value of the 2000 Sacajawea dollars.
They are worth their face value of $1.00, right?
Right!!! and I can tell you that many people reject the dollar coins, without knowing that they can have much more commemorative value
In researching these and looking at the regular issue and the Cheerios issue side by side blown up, this is a regular issue that has been circulated.
fhrjr2 I do not know for whom your comment is, but if it is for me, I want to tell you that I respect the opinions of all those who comment, I know that since there can be good opinions there will also be bad opinions. Whatever the truth. I'm just trying to show everyone my collection, I do not pretend to cheat on someone, because I'm also learning the subject. Whether this currency is a cheerios or not is no problem to worry about, I just reclassify it and it's done, I do not need straws for that. Thank you
Terry_2019 Don't run away and pout. All the information you posted is accurate as it applies to the original certified, uncirculated coin. That doesn't apply to the coin you have posted. With luck your coin is worth $1.04. That is a four cent profit in 19 years. Show your collection, listen and learn, don't throw a tizzy fit and go pout. At the same time let the benefit of your research actually apply to the actual item you have and not one you wish you had. If I offended you that isn't unusual, I tend to be out spoken. Sorry bout that.