1999 Dollar Pattern - J-2185, Martha Washington

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,935 MS65 01-04-2017 Heritage Auctions

Description

The culmination of a multi-denomination, multi-decade Martha Washington design series, this 1999 dollar pattern places the nation's first First Lady on the denomination that would ultimately feature Sacagawea. The Martha Washington dollar pattern represents the final and most ambitious entry in a sequence that included the 1965 dime (J-2101), 1982 cent (J-2180), and 1985 nickel (J-2182), each testing the Martha Washington portrait on a different denomination. For the dollar format, the portrait's larger canvas — 26.5mm versus the nickel's 21.2mm — allows for greater detail and a more commanding presence. Martha Washington was a serious candidate for the new dollar coin: the $1 Coin Act of 1997 specified that the new dollar should depict a woman, and Martha Washington's historical significance as the first First Lady made her a natural choice alongside Sacagawea, Harriet Tubman, and other women considered by the Dollar Coin Design Advisory Committee. The DCDAC ultimately recommended Sacagawea, but the Martha Washington concept had sufficient institutional support to merit formal pattern production. This piece closes a 34-year chapter of Martha Washington pattern coinage that began with the 1965 dime.

Rarity Notes

R-7 to R-8 (Extremely Rare). Martha Washington dollar patterns are highly sought after, combining the appeal of the Martha Washington series with the significance of the Sacagawea dollar development.

Cross References

Judd J-2185 (Martha Washington variant). Part of the Martha Washington pattern series: J-2101 (1965 dime), J-2180 (1982 cent), J-2182 (1985 nickel), J-2185 (1999 dollar).