What follows is a list of questions concerning the production of Sacagawea dollars asked of U.S. Mint officials. As of March 19, 2001, most of the questions have gone unanswered.
1. It is our understanding that the U.S. Mint purchases from outside suppliers all of the alloy strip to produce the Sacagawea dollars. Is this correct? If so, please name the suppliers.
2. It is our understanding that the U.S. Mint performs all of the blanking process. Is this correct?
3. In what facility or facilities is the blanking being done?
4. Please identify which facility or facilities are performing the upsetting, annealing, washing, and drying.
5. It is our understanding that burnishing capacity became a problem. Is this correct? If so, when?
6. It is our understanding that the U.S. Mint purchased new burnishing equipment and installed it in the Philadelphia Mint. Is this correct?
7. If correct, when was the equipment brought online?
8. Does the new burnishing equipment have the same capacity as that already being used?
9. Does the temperature and time of annealing differ?
10. We understand that even with the new equipment, the U.S. Mint did not have the capacity to burnish all of the Sacagawea dollars being produced. Is this correct?
11. We understand that the U.S. Mint contracted with the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) to perform burnishing of Sacagawea planchets. Is this correct? If correct, please provide the following information:
12. When (provide inclusive dates) did the RCM burnish Sacagawea dollar planchets?
13. How many Sacagawea planchets were burnished by the RCM?
14. What kind of burnishing equipment was used by the RCM to perform the burnishing?
15. Did temperatures and burnishing times differ from the process used in U.S. Mint facilities? Please explain and provide details of any differences.
16. Did the RCM perform any function other than burnishing and drying?
17. Is the RCM currently performing any process in the manufacture of the Sacagawea dollar coin?
18. Which U.S. Mint facilities struck 2000-dated Sacagawea dollar coins? Please provide mintages by facility and inclusive dates of strikings at each facility.
19. Please describe the washing/cleaning/drying processes used after striking the Sacagawea dollar coins.
20. What chemicals are used in the washing/cleaning process?
21. At any time has the U.S. Mint applied an antioxidant coating to any Sacagawea coins?
22. If so, when?
23. Have there been different formulas of an antioxidant or antioxidants applied?
24. At any time has the U.S. Mint burnished any Sacagawea dollars after striking?
25. If so, when and how many?
26. With regard to the 5, 000 Sacagawea dollar coins paid to sculptor Glenna Goodacre: When were the coins struck?
27. Were new dies used to strike the coins Goodacre received?
28. Were the planchets used to strike the coins that Goodacre received burnished longer or processed in a manner different than other Sacagawea coins?
29. Have any Sacagawea coins been burnished after being struck? If so, how many? Were such coins kept separate for any purpose?
30. How (packaging) were the coins delivered to Goodacre?
31. Was any special die preparation performed on the die used to strike the dollars that went to Goodacre? If so, please describe.
