The coin has been called the most beautiful in the history of US coins. When it was designed in 1907, the high relief made it impractical to mass produce the coins. A lower relief coin version was created for mass production. Today’s technology allows the design to finally be struck as intended.

The coin will be minted in .9999 fine gold and contain one pure ounce of gold. The coins will have a diameter of 27 millimeters and width of 4 millimeters. This is thicker than typical one ounce gold coins to accomodate the high relief.

The first coins were recently struck at the West Point Mint on November 24, 2008. The coins are expected to be very popular with collectors and will go on sale in January 2009.

The Native American Dollar will feature the obverse design of the Sacagawea Dollar plus rotating reverse designs. The reverse designs will be chnaged once per year and will feature history and important figures from Native American culture.

The first design features the Three Sisters method of planting. Corn, beans, and squash are being planted by a Native American woman. The insrciptions read “United States of America” and “$1″. This was designed by Norman E. Nemeth.