2019 Native American $1 Coin: American Indians In the Space Program

Native American $1 Coins
Issued in 2019
2019 Native American One Dollar Uncirculated Reverse
2019 Native American One Dollar Uncirculated Reverse
2019 Native American One Dollar Uncirculated Obverse
2019 Native American One Dollar Uncirculated Obverse

Coin Description

Reverse
The design features Mary Golda Ross (Cherokee Nation), the first Native American engineer in the U.S. space program, writing calculations. In the background, an Atlas-Agena rocket launches into space, with an equation inscribed in its cloud. The equation shows the energy it takes to leave Earth and reach the orbit of a distant planet. An astronaut conducts a spacewalk above. The astronaut represents Native American astronauts, including John Herrington. A group of stars in the field behind indicates outer space.
Obverse
Features an image of Sacagawea, the Shoshone who helped Lewis and Clark on their historic voyage of exploration.

The Story

The 2019 Native American $1 coin features the contributions of Native Americans to the United States space program. These accomplishments include the work of Mary Golda Ross of the Cherokee Nation.

Mary Golda Ross was one of 40 engineers who worked for Lockheed’s Advanced Development Programs, the company’s top secret think tank. She was the only American Indian and only woman on the team aside from the secretary. Much of her work is still classified today. Her work helped develop the Agena spacecraft for the Gemini and Apollo space programs.

In addition to honoring the contributions of Mary Golda Ross, the coin also features an astronaut representing Commander John Herrington of the Chickasaw Nation. In 2002, he became the first Native American to walk in space. He was part of the 16th Space Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station. On his journey, he carried the Chickasaw Nation flag to honor his Native American heritage.

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2019 Native American One Dollar Uncirculated Reverse
2019 Native American One Dollar Uncirculated Reverse
2019 Native American One Dollar Uncirculated Obverse
2019 Native American One Dollar Uncirculated Obverse