You likely have Randy’L Teton’s portrait in your house. If you’re not sure where to look, check your piggy bank.
Teton modeled for the Sacajawea dollar; a golden $1 coin introduced in 2000. Since then, the U.S. currency model has traveled the country, served on tribal and museum boards, and been a coin show favorite.
A Lifelong Fascination
Teton related to the Lewis and Clark Expedition guide long before serving as her model. She first became captivated while working at the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Museum in Fort Hall, Idaho.
“One of the biggest questions I always received was about Sacajawea,” she said. “And being 15, around her age, I did my own research. This young female, she’s from my tribe, and from our state of Idaho, from Salmon. There was very little information that really gave you a better view of who this young woman was.”
Modeling History
A proud mother’s wallet photo led to Teton acting as a sculptor’s muse.
“Glenna Goodacre was chosen by the United States Mint, along with other well-known artists,” Teton said. “She wanted to see how a Shoshone looked, because she is aware that different tribes have different looks…and she wanted to be historically accurate.”
Visiting a Santa Fe museum, Goodacre encountered Bonnie Wadsworth.
“And since my mother has a background in museum studies and she's a former museum director, she shared a lot of information about Sacajawea from a Shoshone perspective. And one of the last questions Glenna asked her was, ‘Do you have any daughters?’ My mother breaks out our school pictures and right away Glenna says, ‘I want her.’”
Teton was attending the University of New Mexico in nearby Albuquerque when she got the offer. With an arranged rental car, the college student made the 60-mile trek to Goodacre’s Santa Fe studio. At Teton’s insistence, Goodacre arranged to borrow a deerskin dress from a local gallery.
“I was really hesitant that it was going to fit,” Teton said. “But once I tried it on, it fit perfectly.”
After a full day of modeling, Goodacre set to work, and Teton waited. Months later, Goodacre told her the designs were submitted. More time passed.
“And then, randomly, one day I come back to my dormitory to a voicemail from U.S. Mint Director Philip Diehl. And he's telling me, ‘Congratulations, you and Glenna's designs are one of the top ten designs that's going to be voted for by the public on the U.S. Mint website.’”
The designs were to be posted at 6 a.m. Eastern Time. For Teton, that meant a 3:45 a.m. trip to be the first in the Mountain time zone to visit the site.
“I couldn't sleep all night,” she recounted. “I logged on and saw the designs of myself. And it was like looking in a mirror. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. I can't believe it.’ I just was excited because I'm on the website. And I click ‘Next’ to go to the next design. It's me. I click ‘Next,’ it's me.”
Five of the six obverse designs featured a Teton-inspired Sacajawea depiction.
The design ultimately selected also features Sacajawea’s son, who was partially modeled after one-year-old Adam Scholz.
“I'm really glad the winning design includes little Jean Baptiste,” Teton said. “He is the youngest member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. According to some of the records I've seen, he helped maintain a happiness with the crew. He was the joy.”
Minting an Excellent Year
Teton became the first person in her family to earn a four-year college degree, then began a two-year whirlwind tour to help promote the new coin, which included an unveiling ceremony at the White House in 1999.
“The excitement of seeing everyone's face light up when they saw the unveiling of the new coin and then having me there, and people were seeing Randy’L with this new design, and they were like, ‘(The U.S. Mint) got it right. You're depicting a real Native American using a real Native American.’ I just felt really honored and humbled, and I still do. I can't believe that my facial characteristics are on a coin. I mean, who says that's what they want to do when they grow up!
“I traveled with the U.S. Mint to various coin shows and legislative events; really just being the voice of Sacajawea,” she said. “I wore my beaded buckskin dress my grandmother made. It piqued a lot of people's interest, seeing a Native American where you don't normally see one, especially in the streets of D.C. and L.A. It was really fun. And then after the two years, I just decided to return back to Idaho.”
Teton got married, had three children, and began work on bringing Sacajawea to a new audience: readers.
Sharing the Story
Drawing from oral traditions and research, Teton released the graphic novel “It's Her Story: Sacajawea” in October 2024.
“Finally, there is a book written by a Shoshone, the same tribe as Sacajawea, from a Shoshone perspective, and illustrated by a Shoshone artist, Aly McKnight.”
The book opens with a girl receiving a Sacajawea dollar coin from the Tooth Fairy.
“My child, when he first lost his tooth, he received a coin. And then every other tooth, he'd receive a coin. And I remember one time he asked, ‘Aren't these coins too heavy for the Tooth Fairy?’ The bond that I have with my children, I wanted to share that with the beginning of my story.”
Teton wants readers to put themselves in Sacajawea’s moccasins.
“I really want the reader to be engaged in what she was really feeling during this time of her life,” she said. “And despite the color of your skin, you’re going to relate to this story because this is a story about strength, and survival, and really empowering of herself. I feel that this book has really resonated with people of all ages.”
Teton has plans for a college-level book that delves into more of Sacajawea’s story after the Expedition.
Offerings to a Legacy
Teton gives talks across the country on her experience, but one location always warrants an extra stop.
“Sacajawea was buried in Fort Washakie, (Wyoming), so they named it the Sacajawea Cemetery,” Teton said. “And whenever I go and visit over there, I always visit her burial and honor her with the coin.”
To support Teton, visit randylteton.com for coins or autographed books.
I can't believe that my facial characteristics are on a coin. I mean, who says that's what they want to do when they grow up!
I can't believe my facial characteristics are on a coin. Who says that’s what they want to do when they grow up?