Sacagawea Dollar: In an unexpected twist, a forgotten token cup sitting in an old game room turned out to be hiding a rare and highly valuable coin. What looked like just another Sacagawea dollar mixed in with old arcade tokens has now been confirmed as a rare variant — and it’s estimated to be worth $117,000.
This astonishing discovery shows that treasures can be found in the most ordinary places. Here’s the full story.
It All Started with a Simple Clean-Up
The coin was found by a North Carolina resident who was cleaning out a storage space. Inside an old arcade token cup — the kind that once held loose change for pinball and video games — they spotted a shiny gold coin. At first glance, it seemed to be just another Sacagawea dollar, introduced by the U.S. Mint in 2000.
But something about this coin looked different. The texture. The finish. The weight. It didn’t quite match the rest.
What Makes This Sacagawea Dollar Special?
Most Sacagawea dollars are relatively common, and millions were produced for circulation. But a handful of early versions were part of a special test production — and they were never meant to enter circulation. These rare coins are known as “Cheerios Dollars.”
Why that name? Because in 2000, General Mills included 5,500 of these special coins in boxes of Cheerios as part of a promotional campaign. While most people simply saw them as novelty items, collectors would later discover that the reverse side of these coins was subtly different from the final design used in standard circulation.
This particular coin found in the arcade cup was later authenticated as one of those extremely rare versions — not just a Cheerios Dollar, but one with a patterned eagle tail design, which was quietly altered in later mintings.
How It Was Verified
After noticing the unusual features, the coin’s owner reached out to a numismatic expert. Upon inspection, it was determined that the coin was not only genuine, but in near-perfect condition. The distinct tail feathers, combined with the year and mint mark, confirmed it was part of the early production run.
The coin was then submitted to a third-party grading company, which gave it an exceptionally high grade, boosting its collectible value dramatically.
Why It’s Valued at $117,000
Rare coins often gain their value based on a mix of scarcity, condition, and demand among collectors. This Sacagawea dollar checks all the boxes:
- It is one of fewer than 100 known examples with the early eagle tail feather pattern.
- It was found in mint or near-mint condition, despite being stored in a cup of arcade tokens.
- Its unexpected journey adds a story that collectors love — making it even more appealing at auction.
Experts estimate the value at around $117,000, though some believe it could fetch even more at a well-publicized auction.
Lessons from the Find
This story is a reminder that sometimes, incredible value can hide in plain sight. The coin sat unnoticed for over two decades, mixed in with forgotten tokens from a different era. It took a little curiosity — and a close eye — to uncover its true worth.
If you think you have old coins sitting around, especially ones from the early 2000s or earlier, now might be the time to take a closer look.
A coin once overlooked as a child’s arcade souvenir has now been revealed as a piece of rare American numismatic history — with a value of $117,000. While finds like these are rare, they remind us that treasures often lie in the places we least expect.
So next time you’re cleaning out a drawer, attic, or storage bin, check before you toss that old change. Your own piece of history might just be waiting.