Why did the United States Mint decide to use the “g” spelling of Sacagawea?
Historical records use conflicting spellings of her name. Based on several highly regarded contemporary works, the Mint decided to use the “Sacagawea” spelling. To quote one work: “Translated, her name means ‘Bird Woman,’ and in their attempts to spell the Indians words, Lewis and Clark used variations of ‘Sah-ca-gah-we-ah’ and ‘Sah-kah-gar-we-a.’ (In 1814, when a version of the journals appeared, an editor changed the spelling to Sacajawea, which was the preferred spelling until recently, when most historians and official publications reverted to Sacagawea.)” Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery, An Illustrated History. New York: Alfred A.
