For the first time, collections will have the opportunity to own a piece of numismatic and spaceflight history with the auction of rare Judd-2190 Pattern 2000-W Sacagawea gold dollars.
Struck in 22-karat gold, the spaceflight gold dollars were brought aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on a mission in July 1999, traveling nearly two million miles in orbit. Since their return, the coins have been stored at the Fort Knox Bullion Depository.
However, they are now being opened to public ownership. The auction will take place on September 12th through Stack’s Bowers Galleries. Learn more here.
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Judd-2190 Gold Dollars
The Judd-2190 gold dollars aren’t unique just for their spacefaring background. They are also the only collectible gold pattern coins struck by the U.S. Mint after 1907, and the only federal coins specifically produced for spaceflight purposes.
Graded Proof-69 Depp Cameo by PCGS and #5 in the Top 100 Modern Coins, the Judd-2190 pieces are legendary in numismatic circles. Even now, with the auction right around the corner, even the most elite collectors never expected the coins to be available in a private market.
History
The Judd-2190 gold coin was created in June 1999 to commemorate the upcoming Sacagawea dollar series and honor the first space shuttle flight commanded by a woman, USAF Colonel (ret.) Eileen Collins. They were struck using the 1/2 oz. gold planchets intended for the American Gold Eagle series.
On the reverse side, there is the prototype “engraved tailfeathers” and the well-known “Cheerios” variety of the Sacagawea dollar. Out of 39 coins produced, 12 were chosen to fly in space. The remaining 27 were destroyed after selection, making the pieces extremely rare.
The spaceflight gold dollars have since been recognized as a historic rarity. The numismatic press once estimated the value of a non-space-flown example displayed at a congressional dinner in 1999 at $1 million, emphasizing its prestige among collectors.
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Unique Patterns
Notably, these patterns have not been a part of major pattern coin collections over the past decades, including those curated by noted collectors, such as Bass, Berngard, Jarapendo, Jewell, and others.
With the coins coming to auction, a new era will begin and allow collectors to purchase and showcase them in competitive PCGS Set Registry categories. These include Complete Patterns, Die Trials & Experimental Pieces, and Top 100 Modern Coins sets.
Seven of the 2000-W Sacagaweaa dollars will be the only examples ever made available to collectors. The remaining five examples will be a permanent fixture in the United States Mint’s heritage collection and other public institutions.
The 2025-W Sacagawea Dollar
In addition to the 2000-W Sacagawea dollars, the auction will also be presenting the very first struck 2025-W Sacagawea dollar in 24-karat gold. The piece will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the series. The Proof-70 Deep Cameo coin is the #1 struck example and will be the centerpiece of the limited anniversary series.
Its appearance will be further highlighted by the recent sale of the #1 struck privy mark 2024 Flowing Hair gold $1 coin, which sold for a staggering $440,000. This is the highest price ever for a 21st-century U.S. Mint coin.
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An Online Auction
The September 12th auction will be broadcast live from Stack’s Bowers Galleries headquarters in Costa Mesa, California. This allows worldwide collectors the opportunity to participate in a landmark sale. For those interested in more information, Stack’s Bowers Galleries has all the information on its website.
This auction not only marks a significant milestone for collectors of modern U.S. coins but also notes an intersection of American numismatic and space exploration history, providing a chance to add an extraordinary piece to elite collections.
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