The United States Mint has released the 2026 Native American one dollar coin featuring Oneida woman Polly Cooper, recognising her historic contribution during the American Revolution.
The coin's release coincides with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Polly Cooper was a member of the Oneida Indian Nation, part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and is remembered for aiding George Washington's troops at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78.
She and fellow Oneida people travelled from their homelands in what is now Central New York to deliver vital supplies, including white corn.
Ms Cooper remained at the camp through the winter, preparing food and teaching the soldiers how to cook the corn.
The new coin depicts Ms Cooper holding a basket of white corn beside General George Washington.
Her service, considered an act of selfless leadership, helped ensure the survival of the Continental Army during one of the war's most difficult periods.
Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter welcomed the coin as a tribute to a powerful legacy.
"The Oneida people became America's First Allies on some of the bloodiest battlefields of the Revolutionary War," Mr Halbritter said.
"One-third of our ancestors at that time were lost to these conflicts, yet their lives were given proudly for the right of all to sovereignty and self-determination.
"As we look ahead to the 250th anniversary of the United States, the recognition of this legacy and of Polly Cooper's contributions serves as a great source of pride for our people, as well as for all Upstate New Yorkers and all Americans who strive to uphold these principles."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Ms Cooper's actions demonstrated the vital role of Indigenous people in shaping America.
"Today, we recognise and celebrate the contributions of the Oneida Indian Nation," Mr Jeffries said.
"Since our founding, the Indigenous People who have called this land home for centuries have been central to the success of our democracy.
"That storied history is reflected in the legacy of Polly Cooper, a selfless young woman from the Oneida Indian Nation, who gave starving American soldiers the nourishment they needed to continue the fight for independence during the Revolutionary War."
The Oneida Indian Nation has been federally recognised in Central New York and was a founding member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations.
The Nation broke ranks with other members of the Confederacy during the Revolution to ally with American forces, assisting in key battles such as Oriskany, Saratoga, and Barren Hill.
Polly Cooper's contribution, along with the broader legacy of the Oneida as America's First Allies is also featured in the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian and the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.
The Native American $1 Coin program began in 2009 and highlights significant contributions of Native peoples to the history and development of the United States.
