2022 Native American Dollar Design Released

The United Sates Mint officially announced the design for the 2022 Native American dollar coin Nov. 26. The coin commemorates Ely S. Parker, a U.S. Army officer, engineer and tribal diplomat who served as military secretary to Ulysses S. Grant during the U.S. Civil War. When Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Va., on the morning of April 9, 1865, Parker rendered the formal surrender documents in his own hand.

Designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Designer Paul C. Balan and sculpted by Chief Engraver Joseph Menna, the reverse design features Parker, depicted in Army uniform, with a quill pen and book, along with a likeness of his graceful signature, as symbols of his experience as an expert communicator. The inscriptions “TONAWANDA SENECA” and “HA-SA-NO-AN-DA” recognize his tribe and the name given to him at birth. Additional inscriptions include “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “$1.”

The obverse of the 2022 Native American dollar will continue to feature the central figure Sacagawea carrying her infant son, Jean Baptiste, by sculptor Glenna Goodacre. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The year, mintmark, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are incused on the edge of the coin.

Rolls, bags and boxes of the 2022 coin are scheduled for release on Feb. 9.

The Native American $1 Coin Program is authorized by Public Law 110-82 to recognize the important contributions made by Native American tribes and individual Native Americans to the history and development of the United States. The public law mandates a new reverse design with an image emblematic of one important Native American or Native American contribution each year.