Washington, D.C., February 21, 2000 -- The United States Mint today announced that a limited edition of 200,000 Golden Dollar First Day Commemorative Coin Covers featuring the new Golden Dollar struck on its first day of mintage – November 18, 1999 – will be available through its online catalog at www.USMINT.gov beginning February 28.

“The Golden Dollar has won a remarkable reception from the American people," said Mint Director Philip N. Diehl. "The beauty of the coin itself, the story of Sacagawea, the golden color - whatever the source of the magic of this coin - public demand has far exceeded all expectations. The Golden Dollar Commemorative Cover marks the historic first day of mintage of the most popular dollar coin in the nation’s history."

Priced at $19.95, this official Commemorative Coin Cover includes a Golden Dollar from the Philadelphia Mint on a handsome display card portraying Merriwether Lewis, William Clark, Sacagawea and her infant son Jean Baptiste, or “Pomp,” with the 33-cent Flag-Over-City postage stamp. The postmark of “January 1, 2000, Saint Louis, Missouri” marks the day the Golden Dollars were first released to the public – certifying this limited edition.

Customers may order the Golden Dollar Commemorative Coin Cover directly online via the U.S. Mint secure web server at www.USMINT.gov and pay no additional shipping and handling charges. Customers who prefer to fax their orders may download an order form at the website and fax it to (301) 344-4150. Customers also may order by telephone by calling 1-800-USA-MINT. (Telephone and fax orders incur a shipping and handling fee of $3.95 per order).

The Golden Dollar’s most distinctive features include its golden color (a three-layer "clad" system of manganese, brass and copper), a wide border, a smooth edge, and extraordinary design.

American sculptor Glenna Goodacre designed the obverse (heads) of the Golden Dollar, which features the likeness of Sacagawea, the young Shoshone woman who assisted Lewis and Clark on their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase almost 200 years ago. The reverse (tails) of the coin, designed by U.S. Mint Sculptor/Engraver Thomas D. Rogers, Sr., features a soaring Bald Eagle and 17 stars, representing the 17 states of the Union at the time of the Lewis and Clark expedition.