Monticello, VA — United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore today announced the unveiling of the design for the 2004 Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemorative Silver Dollar coin as part of the first of 15 “Signature Events” to be held across the country through 2006 to mark the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark’s expedition.
“Today we honor two great men for their courage and leadership in exploring a new nation,” said United States Mint Director Fore. “We take great pride in creating this beautiful silver coin in celebration of their historic journey.”
The United States Mint participated, along with other federal agencies and vendors, in the launch of “Jefferson’s West: A Lewis and Clark Exposition,” a national observance of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial organized by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, with a week long exhibit and retail sales event at the University of Virginia from January 14th–18th.
The coin’s obverse and reverse designs were created by United States Mint sculptor/engraver Donna Weaver. The obverse depicts Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on a stream bank planning another day of travel and exploration. Lewis is seen holding his journal. The reverse features two feathers from the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial logo — representing the many Native American Indian cultures touched by the Corps of Discovery Expedition. It also features a peace medal presented to the Native American Nations during the expedition on behalf of President Jefferson. Seventeen stars represent the number of states of the Union in 1804.
Public Law 106–126 dated December 6, 1999, provides for the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 500,000 silver one–dollar commemorative coins to support the activities associated with commemorating the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The price of each coin will include a ten–dollar surcharge, with two–thirds of the surcharges authorized to be paid to the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council and one–third to the National Park Service.
Created by Congress in 1792, the United States Mint is the manufacturer of legal tender coinage for the United States. In fiscal year 2002, the United States Mint manufactured approximately 15 billion coins and generated revenue of $1.8 billion. With facilities in five states and the District of Columbia, the United States Mint has customers in 54 countries and is the world’s 30th largest online retailer. For more information, please visit www.usmint.gov.