Houston, We Have a Dollar!
American Innovation® $1 Coin Program honors innovation across the U.S. Texas and Florida chose to honor achievements in aeronautics and space for their 2025 American Innovation $1 Coins.
Monthly Mint Trivia: In 1873, the Mint Director’s Office moved to the Treasury Building in Washington, DC. Where was it previously? (Hint: Check out the Mint History Timeline.)
Innovation in Space Flight Technology
Two of the American Innovation $1 Coins in 2025 honor advances in space-related technology. From shuttles launching at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center to astronauts communicating with Mission Control in Texas, NASA teams worked together to achieve major milestones. Read on for ways you can share these stories with the next generation.
Share information about the American Innovation program and the designs using the resources below:
- Coin Sun Prints - Use coins with the power of the sun to create a piece of art in this activity for students Kindergarten and above.
- Coin Rubbing and Matching - Use this activity to help K-2nd graders learn each coin type and how to identify them.
- Design Your Own Coin – Ask students to research Raye’s life and create their own design based on their research.
- Coloring Pages - Students can put their own spin on the American Innovation $1 Coin designs by coloring them in.
- For students grade 4 and up, show them the coin images. Ask students to discuss the coin design. (1) What would they keep or change about the design? What other details could have been used in the design? (2) Then show students some of the other design options that were considered. Which ones do they like? Why or why not?
- Provide additional context to your students by playing this video playlist, which covers the longstanding connections between coins and space.
- Check out NASA’s wide array of lesson plans, activities, and more resources for educators.
- Learn more about Mission Control and how they communicate with astronauts with this fun activity from Crayola.
Want more ideas? Reach out to education.outreach@usmint.treas.gov for recommendations on lesson plans and activities for your students.
Coin of the Month: American Innovation $1 Coin - Texas
The American Innovation $1 Coin honoring Texas features an American astronaut conducting a spacewalk outside the International Space Station as the reverse design. The image represents the culmination of the Mission Control Center’s economic, logistical, and intellectual support for NASA’s human space program, as well as its support of astronauts from the many countries that participate in the International Space Station program.
2025 Coloring Pages
Presidential Challenge
Youth Sports Survey
We Want to Hear from You!
Are you interested in incorporating coins into your classroom next year, but aren't sure where to start? Let us help you! The U.S. Mint offers K-6 lesson plans, online educational games, videos, online quizzes, a free Coin Coloring Book, and other resources. Reach out to us at education.outreach@usmint.treas.gov to request resources that fit your education needs.
Trivia Answer: Before 1873, the Mint Director's Office was in Philadelphia.