If you have a 2000-P Sacagawea dollar in your coin jar or wallet, you might be holding a hidden treasure. One specific version of this coin — known as the “mule error” — has fetched as much as $72,000 at auction, and only a small number have ever been found. The best part? It looks almost like any ordinary dollar, making it one of the greatest modern coin discoveries in U.S. history.
So how do you know if your 2000-P Sacagawea dollar is the rare mule error? Here’s everything you need to look for.
What Is a “Mule Error” Coin?
In coin collecting, a mule error occurs when two mismatched coin dies — the metal stamps used to create the front (obverse) and back (reverse) designs — are accidentally paired together at the U.S. Mint.
In the case of the rare 2000-P Sacagawea dollar, the mule features a Sacagawea reverse (the eagle in flight) but was mistakenly struck with the obverse (front) of a Washington quarter — specifically, the Statehood quarter obverse used in the same era.
In other words, this coin has George Washington’s face on the front and a soaring eagle with Sacagawea’s name on the back — a combination that should never have existed.
How Did This Happen?
The error is believed to have occurred at the Philadelphia Mint in 2000, where both Statehood quarters and Sacagawea dollars were being produced. A Washington quarter obverse die was mistakenly paired with a Sacagawea dollar reverse die on a golden dollar blank (planchet).
This slip-up resulted in one of the most legendary mint errors of the modern era.
How to Identify the $72,000 Mule Error Coin
If you think you might have a rare Sacagawea mule error, here’s how to tell:
1. Obverse (Front) Shows George Washington
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Instead of Sacagawea, the front of the coin shows George Washington’s profile, like a quarter.
2. Reverse (Back) Shows the Sacagawea Eagle Design
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The reverse features the famous flying eagle with 17 stars and the legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • ONE DOLLAR.”
3. The Coin Is Gold in Color and Dollar-Sized
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Although the front looks like a quarter, it’s struck on a golden-colored Sacagawea dollar planchet, which is larger than a quarter and made of a manganese-brass alloy.
4. Mint Mark “P”
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The known mule errors were struck at the Philadelphia Mint and feature the “P” mintmark on the obverse.
5. Weight and Size
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It should weigh about 8.1 grams and be 26.5 mm in diameter, the standard for a Sacagawea dollar — not a quarter.
How Rare Is It?
To date, only around 20 examples of the 2000-P Sacagawea mule error have been confirmed. Each one discovered has made headlines in the coin world. The first known example was found in a roll of coins from a bank in Arkansas. That coin sold for $29,900 in 2000, and others have since sold for $50,000 to $72,000, depending on condition.
These coins are highly sought after by collectors and are considered one of the top modern U.S. mint errors ever made.
What To Do If You Find One
If you suspect you have a mule error:
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Do NOT spend it.
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Handle it carefully — ideally with cotton gloves.
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Weigh and measure the coin to confirm it’s dollar-sized.
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Contact a professional coin dealer or grading service like PCGS or NGC for authentication and grading.
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Consider getting it appraised for auction or sale.
Final Thoughts
The 2000-P Sacagawea mule error coin is one of the most exciting modern rarities in U.S. coinage — a mistake that turned into a multi-thousand-dollar collector’s dream. And the fact that some may still be out there, undetected in circulation, adds to the thrill.
So the next time you come across a golden dollar, take a close look. If it has George Washington on the front and a flying eagle on the back, don’t spend it — you might be holding a $72,000 piece of history.