SKU# OK16CTPD

2016 $1 Native American Code Talker Uncirculated P&D 2-coin Set Encapsulated

Specifications (each coin)

Composition - Manganese-Brass - 88.5% Cu 6% Zn, 3.5% Mn, 2% Ni

Strike/Finish - business uncirculated

Weight (g) - 8.100 grams

Diameter - 1.043 inches (26.49 mm)

Edge - lettered (motto, year, and mint mark

Face value - 1 dollar (a legal tender United States coin)

Mint & Mint Mark - one Denver, D & one Philadelphia, P

Description

This year’s Native American dollar coin theme commemorates the contributions of the Code Talkers from World War I and World War II (1917–1945).

The obverse (heads) design on this dollar coin retains the central figure of the “Sacagawea” design first produced in 2000 with the inscriptions “LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.” The reverse (tails) design depicts two helmets, one inscribed with “WWI” and the other with “WWII.” The two feathers forming a “V” on this dollar coin symbolize victory, unity and the importance of the role these code talkers played. This Native American dollar coins includes the required inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “$1.”

Coin easels are not included but are sold separately in our eBay store.

Special features:

• The 2016 Native American $1 Coin commemorates the contributions of the Code Talkers from both WW I and WW II

• These coins have a circulating finish (business strike), but have never been placed into circulation

• Each coin is encapsulated, as shown in photos. Edge lettering is visible through the capsule.

Did you know…

“Code talkers” are people in the 20th century who used obscure languages as a means of secret communication during wartime. The term is now usually associated with the United States soldiers during the world wars who used their knowledge of Native American languages as a basis to transmit coded messages. In particular, there were approximately 400–500 Native Americans in the United States Marine Corps whose primary job was the transmission of secret tactical messages. Code talkers transmitted these messages over military telephone or radio communications nets using formal or informally developed codes built upon their native languages. Their service improved the speed of encryption of communications at both ends in front line operations during World War II.

The name code talkers is strongly associated with bilingual Navajo speakers specially recruited during World War II by the Marines to serve in their standard communications units in the Pacific Theater.  Code talking, however, was pioneered by Cherokee and Choctaw Indians during World War I.

Other Native American code talkers were deployed by the United States Army during World War II, including Lakota, Meskwaki, Comanche, and other Native American soldiers. Soldiers of Basque ancestry were also used for code talking by the U.S. Marines during World War II in areas where other Basque speakers were not expected to be operating.

Non-speakers would find it extremely difficult to accurately distinguish unfamiliar sounds used in these languages. Additionally, a speaker who has acquired a language during their childhood sounds distinctly different from a person who acquired the same language in later life, thus reducing the chance of successful imposters sending false messages.  Finally, the additional layer of an alphabet cypher was added to prevent interception by native speakers not trained as code talkers, in the event of their capture by the Japanese. A similar system employing Welsh was used by British forces, but not to any great extent during World War II. Welsh was used more recently in the Balkan peace-keeping mission for non-vital messages.

Navajo was an attractive choice for code use because few people outside the Navajo had learned to speak the language. Virtually no books in Navajo had been published. Outside of the language, the Navajo spoken code was not very complex by cryptographic standards. It would likely have been broken if a native speaker and trained cryptographers could have worked together effectively. The Japanese had an opportunity to attempt this when they captured Joe Kieyoomia in the Philippines in 1942 during the Bataan Death March. Kieyoomia, a Navajo sergeant in the U.S. Army, but not a code talker, was ordered to interpret the radio messages later in the war. However, since Kieyoomia had not participated in the code training, the messages made no sense to him. When he reported that he could not understand the messages, his captors tortured him. The Japanese Imperial Army and Navy never cracked the spoken code.

Packaging:

Each coin is encapsulated in a crystal clear, archival quality coin capsule.  Edge lettering is visible through the edge of the capsules.

Shipping & Handling

Fast, free shipping & handling via USPS First Class Mail to all U.S. addresses!  USPS Priority Mail & Priority Mail Express are also available for an additional charge.

International shipping is via the ebay Global Shipping Program.

Additional Information

OK Ranch sells fine collectible & investment coins, fine & fashion jewelry, gifts, and more through our eBay store.