2001 Apollo Astronaut "golden" dollar prototype, SILVER prooflike

In 1998 before Sacagawea was chosen as the theme for the new US Mint small "golden" dollar circulating coin, this Apollo Astronaut prototype designed by Daniel Carr was considered by the US Mint and Congress as a possible design. Renderings of it were featured in numerous publications including Coin World (front pages - March 30, 1998 and April 13, 1998 issues).

The obverse shows an Apollo Astronaut on the moon with a flag. At the time this coin was designed in 1998, nobody knew when the US Mint small "golden" dollars would first be issued. So the design was given a "2001" date, in honor of the movie "2001 A Space Odyssey". The Astronaut's face and headset (microphone) can be seen through the helmet visor. The 13 stars in the background symbolize the future colonization of space. The large "D" represents a "Denver" mint mark. A small "DC" (designer's initials) are visible to the left of the bottom of the flag pole.

The reverse design was later revised and became one of seven US Mint finalists for the reverse of the Sacagawea dollar coin. It features an Eagle soaring across the sun with 50 rays (symbolizing the 50 US states).

This design was sculpted in 3D by Daniel Carr, and the dies were made using a direct mechanical transfer from the 3D models.
To comply with US regulations, the reverse of the coin is marked "One Roller" rather than "One Dollar".

Size: 27mm.
Composition: .999 Pure Silver.
Weight: 15.6 grams, (1/2 Troy Ounce).
Edge: Smooth, Marked ".999 FINE SILVER".
Finish: Proof-Like.
Final Mintage: 100.
Holder: Non-PVC 2x2 "flip".

More information about Daniel Carr's Dollar coin designs can be seen at: Mike Wallace's Small Dollars web page