Today the United States Mint announced the reverse design that will be used on the 2010 Native American Dollar. This coin series features a different reverse design annually to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Native Americans.
The new reverse design is based on the theme “Government – The Great Tree of Peace”. The design depicts the Hiawatha Belt with five arrows bound together. This belt is a visual record of the creation of the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois Confederacy. The symbols on the belt and five arrows represent the five nations: Onondaga, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca. The reverse will carry the inscriptions “United States of America”, “$1”, “Haudenosaunee” and “Great Law of Peace”. The design is by Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Thomas Cleveland.
The obverse of the coin will feature the portrait of Sacagawea and child designed by Glenna Goodacre. This design was used on the previous Sacagawea Dollar coin series. Obverse inscriptions include “Liberty” and “In God We Trust”. The motto “E Pluribus Unum”, date, and mint mark appear edge lettered on the rim of the coin.
The 2010 Native American Dollars will be released in January 2010 and issued throughout the year. Under law, at least twenty percent of all dollar coins produced by the United States Mint are required to be Native American Dollars.
The Iroquois are made up of six tribes. Where is the arrow representing the Tuscarora?
Wikipedia says the Tuscarora joined later in the 18th century. Since this is depicting the creation of the Haudenosaunee, I assume this is why they are not represented.
Does this coin have “IN GOD WE TRUST” on it anywhere?
Yes, it is on the obverse (heads side) of the coin.
The obverse will be the same design used last year, which you can see here:
http://coins.coinupdate.com/native-american-dollar-coins/
Even Wikipedia could use a little updating now and then. The Tuscarora were once one of the “original” tribes comprising the Iroquois Confederacy. They were never a tribe who “joined” at any point in time. They made the arduous decision to leave the Confederacy..surrendering any power and status within the Confederacy by doing so..and moved their tribe to North Carolina at one point in time. Not able to adapt to the greater changes they found there, they returned to their homelands in what is now Western New York, but were never restored to their original status within the Confederacy. It is unfortunate, but this is why you do not see a sixth arrow depicted, nor another square on the Hiawatha Belt as well.