Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado) plan to block legislation to remove Sakakawea / Sacagawea from the golden dollar coin.

Rep. Mike Castle (R-Delaware) has introduced legislation to replace the Indian woman on the Lewis and Clark expedition with images of the U.S. presidents. A House subcommittee approved the measure last month.

But Dorgan and Campbell wrote a letter on Monday opposing the change. "The timing of this proposal is particularly poor given that the Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition is upon us. For many Americans, Sakakawea is one of the best-known aspects of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as the only woman to accompany the 33 members of the permanent party," the two senators wrote.

Production dropped from 558 million coins in 2000 to 6.2 million in 2000, The Fargo In-Forum reports. Historically, the dollar coin has always been a difficult sell. Rather than remaining in circulation, as the U.S. Mint hopes, the Sacagawea coin has become a collectors item.

Get the Story:
Presidents threaten Sakakawea dollar coin (The Fargo In-Forum 5/18)
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Supporters of Sakakawea dollar seek to block plans to scrap it (AP 5/17)
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