Oneida Nation to help launch Native American $1 coin
The Oneida Nation of New York will help launch the new 2010 Native American $1 coin at an event next week.

Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter and officials from the U.S. Mint and the National Museum of the American Indian will introduce the coin on Monday. The event takes place at 10:30am at the George Gustav Heye Center in downtown New York City.

The theme of the coin is "Government-the Great Tree of Peace." The tails side features an image of the Hiawatha Belt with five arrows bound together, along with the following inscriptions: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, $1, HAUDENOSAUNEE and GREAT LAW OF PEACE.

The heads side features the familiar image of Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who helped explorers Lewis and Clark.

Congress authorized new designs for the coin through the Native American $1 Coin Act of 2008 . The tails side will celebrate the contributions of Native Americans to U.S. society and recognize important Native Americans. Sacagawea will remain on the front of the coin.

The coin will go on sale this Friday at noon through the U.S. Mint website.

Native American $1 Coin Act:
H.R.2358 | S.585

Related Stories:
New Native American $1 coin goes on sale at end of week (1/19)
Native American $1 Coin Act signed into law (9/24)
Bill that changes Sacagawea dollar sent to Bush (09/05)
House passes Native American One Dollar Coin Act (06/13)