The reverse design will specifically focus on the first written treaty between Native Americans and English settlers in what would become the United States of America. The treaty was between John Carver, Governor of the settlement at Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Sachem Ousamequin, Massasoit (head chief) of the Great Wampanoag Nation.

2011 Native American Dollar Reverse Design Candidates

A total of six candidate designs were prepared by the United States Mint for the 2011 Native American Dollar. Three of the designs feature John Carver and the Massasoit, discussing or signing the treaty. Two of the designs feature the Massasoit by himself. One final design depicts the exchange of a pipe during the peace pipe ceremony.

The Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee reviewed the design candidates in May 2010. Both groups favored the final design depicting the passing of the peace pipe. The final design decision rests with the United States Treasury of the Secretary. The selected reverse design will be paired with the obverse design depicting Sacagawea and child that has been used for each release of the series.

Interested collectors can call or visit local banks to inquire whether they have any rolls of Native American Dollars in stock. Some banks will order and keep an inventory of dollar coins for businesses or customers who request them. If the bank does have the rolls in stock, you will be able to obtain them for face value, or $25 for a roll of 25 coins.

Another option for buying coins at face value is directly from the United States Mint. They recently began the Direct Ship Program, which allows businesses or individuals to order dollar coins in quantity at face value with no additional charges for shipping. The purpose of the program is to facilitate the circulation of dollar coins by removing barriers to distribution. Many collectors also use the program as a method for acquiring coins, since most coins shipped through the program have been uncirculated. The only downside, is that the minimum order is for $250 worth of coins and specific mint marks cannot be requested.

The US Mint also sells individual Native American Dollar Rolls specially packaged for collectors. These come in custom designed US Mint wrappers that indicate the year, mint mark, design, and face value of the coins. Rolls are available from either the Philadelphia or Denver Mint. It is expected that the US Mint will continue to offer these individual rolls for collectors for the foreseeable future of the series. The coins are priced at a premium with a 25-coin roll currently sold for $35.95 plus shipping and handling.

A final method for finding rolls of Native American Dollar coin rolls is the secondary market via coin dealers or marketplaces such as eBay. Generally, there will be sellers or dealers who will keep uncirculated rolls of the coins in stock and sell them for a small premium. While you will pay above face value, the premiums will still be less than the collector offering from the US Mint.

The reverse design features the Hiawatha Belt. This is a visual record of the Haudenosaunnee, better known as the Iroquois Confederacy. The belt has a central figure representing the Great White Pine at center with two squares to each side. These represent the Onondaga, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca Nations. The Hiawatha Belt encircles a group of five arrows to symbolize the strength in unity of the Iroquois Confederacy.

The reverse was designed by Thomas Cleveland and sculpted by Charles L. Vickers. It was selected by the US Treasury Secretary from four candidate designs presented by the United States Mint. The Citizens Coinage Advisory and Commission of Fine Arts, who reviewed the candidate designs, had both recommended the Hiawatha Belt design. The three designs not selected featured representations of the "Great Tree of Peace." This is a white pine tree topped by an eagle were a Native American leader named Peacemaker buried weapons. This was symbolic of the peace treaty formed between the five nations in the Iroquois Confederation.

The obverse of the coin features the depiction of Sacagawea and child designed by Glenna Goodacre. This design had been used for the prior Sacagawea Dollar series from 2000 to 2008.

The 2010 Native American Dollar was first made available by the United States Mint on January 4, 2010 through their Direct Ship Program. Quantities of 250 coins could be ordered at face value for the purpose of introducing the coins into circulation. The US Mint offered numismatic rolls of the coins starting on January 22, 2010. The coins were also made available through regular circulation channels.

A launch ceremony for the coins was held on January 25, 2010 at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian George Gustav Heye Center in New York City. The United States Mint Director was on hand for the event. Children 18 years of age and younger received a newly minted 2010 Native American Dollar for free. Others were given the opportunity to exchange currency for rolls of the new coins.

Circulation strike coins are produced at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. These mint facilities also produce collectors versions of the coins featuring a "satin finish" are also produced for inclusion within the annual United States Uncirculated Mint Set.

Proof coins are produced at the San Francisco Mint. These coins have a high quality cameo proof finish, which features mirrored background elements and frosted raised elements. The Proof Native American Dollar coins are included in the US Mint's annual Silver Proof Set and regular Proof Set.

According to current law, at least 20% of all dollar coins minted and issued during the year must be Native American Dollars. Currently, the US Mint releases four different Presidential Dollar designs per year, along with a single Native American Dollar coin design.

The mintage figures below represent the US Mint's circulating coin production through December 2009. This page will be updated periodically as new information becomes available.

Native American Dollar Mintages

The 2009 Native American Dollar was the first design of the new series, which will feature rotating reverse designs honoring the contributions and accomplishments of Native Americans. The design was first unveiled by the United States mint on November 28, 2008 to coincide with Native American Heritage Day.

The reverse design features a Native American woman planting seeds in a field. This is representative of the "Three Sisters" method of planting, which includes corn, beans, and squash. By growing the three plants together in the same mound, the productivity of each plant was enhanced. The reverse was designed by US Mint Sculptor-Engraver Norman E. Nemeth.

With the unveiling of the new design Director of the US Mint, Edmund Moy remarked,"We are proud to produce the Native American $1 Coin. When Americans use this coin, we hope they reflect on the tremendous contributions Native Americans have made, and continue to make, to our Nation."

The obverse of the coin is the prior Sacagawea portrait designed by Glenna Goodacre. The design was slightly modified by moving the date and mint mark to the edge of the coin. The motto "E Pluribus Unum" additionally appears on the edge of the coin.

The 2009 Native American Dollar was released into circulation on January 2, 2009. A ceremony was held at the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian Institution on January 17, 2009. The festivities included a ceremonial pour of new coins by the Director of the United States Mint from an authentic hand crafted Native American basket. Newly minted coins were given to children who attended the ceremony.

In addition to circulation strike coins produced at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, collectible proof versions of the coin were produced at the San Francisco Mint. The Proof Native American Dollars were included in the US Mint's annual proof and silver proof sets.

Native American Dollar Coin Specifications and Mintage

• Designers: Glenna Goodacre (obverse), Norman E. Nemeth (reverse)
• Mintage: To Be Determined
• Composition: 88.5% copper, 6% zinc, 3.5% manganese, 2% nickel
• Diameter: 26.5 mm
• Weight: 8.1g
• Thickness: 2.0 mm
• Edge: Lettered