Trump Admin Honors Revolutionary War Hero With New Coin

The newest edition of the Sacagawea $1 coin produced by the U.S. Mint will now feature Polly Cooper, a woman from the Oneida tribe who helped save George Washington’s Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

The coin honors the contributions that she and other members of the Oneida tribe made to the Revolutionary War effort by aiding the Continental Army. The Oneida tribe is originally from what is now upstate New York.

In the grueling winter of 1777 to 1778 at Valley Forge, Cooper carried essential relief supplies to the rebel forces where food and supplies were scarce, according to Native News Online. Cooper remained at Valley Forge throughout the winter, cooking for soldiers and showing them how to prepare white corn, according to the outlet.

The $1 Polly Cooper coin is now available for purchase on the @usmint website: https://t.co/nBs1IatPhm

— Oneida Indian Nation (@OneidaNatnNews) January 27, 2026

Officials said the coin will showcase the critical role and early alliance of the Oneida tribe.

“I am proud to see the [U.S. Mint] honoring the remarkable patriot Polly Cooper of the Oneida Indian nation with this year’s Native American $1 Coin,” New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik said in a statement to the Utica Observer Dispatch. “As a born and raised Upstate New Yorker, it is especially meaningful to see our shared history celebrated in this way.”

“The Oneida Indian Nation bravely fought alongside the Continental Army and provided critical support for the patriots throughout the Revolutionary War—including the food and supplies Polly Cooper carried to Valley Forge—making the Oneida people among America’s very first allies,” she continued.

“I am proud to see the @USMint honoring the remarkable patriot Polly Cooper of the Oneida Indian Nation with this year’s Native American $1 Coin.

As a born and raised Upstate New Yorker, it is especially meaningful to see our shared history celebrated in this way.

The Oneida…

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) January 28, 2026

The Oneida tribe broke from their native confederacy to ally with the the American colonists, and they served in key battles such as Saratoga in New York, Native News Online reported. The tribe calls itself “America’s First Allies,” and members of the tribe have served in major American conflicts since this early alliance. (RELATED: Gold And Silver Coins Worth $1 Million Discovered From 1700s Florida Shipwreck)

The 2026 coin shows Cooper offering a basket of corn to Washington, alluding to the crucial role the tribe played in the Revolutionary War. The other side of the coin will continue to depict Sacagawea, a key guide for the Lewis and Clarke expeditions, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Cooper’s design was developed with contributions from the tribe, Ray Halbritter — a representative of the Oneida Indian Nation — told the outlet.

“Polly Cooper symbolizes courage that is not just found on the battlefield but in compassion and willingness to help others, which is just a part of Oneida culture and hospitality,” Halbritter stated.