Collectors are gearing up for a historic moment in numismatics as Stack’s Bowers Galleries prepares to auction the extraordinary Judd-2190 Pattern 2000-W Sacagawea gold dollars this Friday, September 12, 2025. This unique offering marks the first time these rare coins will be available for private ownership. Crafted from 22 Karat gold, the coins have an impressive history, having traveled nearly 2 million miles in orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1999. Since then, they have been secured at the Fort Knox Bullion Depository for nearly three decades. Notably, these coins are the only collectible gold patterns minted after 1907 and are the sole federal U.S. coin created specifically for spaceflight.
Graded Proof-69 Deep Cameo by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and ranked #5 among the Top 100 Modern Coins, the Judd-2190 coins are steeped in numismatic lore. Their existence has long captivated collectors, with many elite pattern enthusiasts never expecting such pieces to be released for public sale.
The significance of these gold dollars was established shortly after their creation when they were first documented in the eighth edition of United States Pattern Coins by J. Hewitt Judd. Struck in June 1999 to promote the upcoming Sacagawea dollar and honor USAF Col. (ret.) Eileen Collins—the first woman to command a space shuttle—the coins utilized 1/2oz gold planchets initially intended for the American Gold Eagle series. Moreover, they feature the rare “engraved tailfeathers” reverse design shared with the much-sought-after “Cheerios” variety of Sacagawea dollar. Out of the original 39 gold examples produced, only 12 were selected for their space journey, while the remaining 27 patterns were unfortunately destroyed.
The rarity of the Judd-2190 coins is underscored by a notable incident from August 5, 1999, when a non-space-flown example was displayed at a private congressional dinner, generating media attention and an estimated valuation of approximately $1 million.
Until now, the Judd-2190 coins have eluded every significant Pattern collection that has been assembled or sold throughout the years, including those of renowned collectors such as Bass, Berngard, Jarapendo, Jewell, Linnemann, E.H. Morgan, Pogue, Prescott, Queller, and Simpson. The upcoming auction heralds a new era, allowing today’s elite collectors to finally acquire these extraordinary pieces of numismatic history.
The seven coins featured in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction are the final examples that will ever be released to collectors. The U.S. Mint has confirmed that the remaining five coins will be preserved in their heritage collection and other public institutions, permanently out of reach for private collectors.
Adding to the excitement of the auction is the inclusion of the very first struck 2025-W Sacagawea dollar in 24 Karat gold, produced to commemorate the series’ 25th Anniversary. This #1 struck example, graded Proof-70 Deep Cameo by PCGS, is considered a significant addition to any world-class modern rarity collection. This particular offering follows a record-setting sale by Stack’s Bowers Galleries, where the #1 struck privy mark 2024 Flowing Hair gold $1 fetched an impressive $440,000.
For more information regarding the auction of the space-flown Judd-2190 pattern gold dollars and the #1 struck 25th Anniversary 24 Karat gold Sacagawea dollar, interested parties can reach out to Stack’s Bowers Galleries at 800-458-4646 or via email at info@stacksbowers.com.
