💰 Imagine pulling a single dollar coin from your collection or change jar… and discovering it’s worth over $4,000. That’s exactly what happened to one lucky collector with the legendary “Cheerios” Sacagawea Dollar.
This coin isn’t just valuable — it’s a modern U.S. rarity that could still be hiding in plain sight today.
🥣 Why It’s Called the “Cheerios” Dollar
In 1999, to promote the brand-new Sacagawea dollar (released in 2000), the U.S. Mint slipped 5,500 coins into specially marked boxes of Cheerios cereal.
👉 Most were standard strikes.
👉 But a tiny portion had a special prototype reverse design — showing extra detail in the eagle’s tail feathers.
These are the famous “Cheerios Dollars.”
💰 Auction Highlight
Recently, a sealed Cheerios Dollar package sold for $4,325 at auction.
Even loose coins (without the cereal box) can sell for $3,000–$5,000+, depending on condition.
🔍 How to Identify a Cheerios Dollar
✅ Step 1: Check the Date & Mint Mark
- Must be 2000
- Must have a P (Philadelphia Mint) mark
✅ Step 2: Inspect the Eagle’s Tail Feathers
- Regular Sacagawea Dollar: Tail feathers look smooth with little detail
- Cheerios Dollar: Tail feathers show sharp, raised lines with crisp definition 🦅
✅ Step 3: Evaluate Condition
- Uncirculated coins bring the highest prices
- Worn coins are still valuable, but worth less
📜 Why It’s So Valuable
The Cheerios Dollar is considered a pattern coin — a prototype design that never made it into full production.
⚡ Its rarity, combined with the quirky Cheerios cereal promotion, makes it one of the most desirable modern U.S. coins.
📝 Quick Finder’s Checklist
✔️ Year: 2000
✔️ Mint Mark: P
✔️ Reverse: Detailed, sharp eagle tail feathers
✔️ Value: $3,000–$5,000+ (higher if still sealed in Cheerios packaging)
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