Leif Ericson Commemorative Dollar Coins
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Leif Ericson, born on the West Coast of Iceland around 975, arrived in
the New World around 1000 A.D. This year marks the millennium of his
historic trip!
Various Icelandic sagas tell the story of how Leif and his crew
departed from Greenland, a colony of newly arrived settlers from Iceland
led by Eric the Red, his father. Eric had been born in Norway, but
Thjodhild, Leif's mother, could trace her family back to the King of
Ireland. Leif stepped ashore on a beautiful island, just north of the new
mainland; far more fruitful than the one they'd left behind, with plenty
of large salmon, wild grapes and self-sown grain. Leif and his crew
wintered there and upon their return he named the land "Vinland"
for its plentiful grapes and vines.
A camp in Newfoundland was used to explore the southern regions of the
Gulf of St. Lawrence, a likely location of Leif's Vinland. Some of Leif's
crew may even have gone as far as the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia and
possibly beyond to New England.
Later, other Icelanders attempted to establish permanent settlement in
"Vinland". One group survived about three years. Eventually,
conflicts with Native Americans drove them back.
Back in Greenland, Leif became the leader of the Greenland colony, and
he never returned to Vinland. Instead he told stories about his early
explorations, later to be written down in the Icelandic sagas about
Vinland.
ABOUT THE COINS:
In an historic first, Public Law 106-126, authorizes the United States
Mint to produce coins in conjunction with the minting of coins by the U.S.
Mint on behalf of the Republic of Iceland-in commemoration of the
millennium of the discovery of the New World by Leif Ericson.
The Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative Coin Program consists of a
U.S. silver dollar and an Icelandic silver krónur. The U.S. silver dollar
in both proof and uncirculated conditions; the Icelandic silver krónur is
offered in proof only. The Mint is also issuing a two-coin set which
contains both the U.S. proof and the Icelandic proof coins. The mintage
for the U.S. coins is limited to 500,000 (all options), and the Icelandic
coin is limited to 150,000 coins.
The U.S. coin is legal tender of the United States and has a face value
of one-dollar. The Icelandic coin is legal tender of Iceland with a face
value of 1000 krónur. Metal composition of the coins is 90% silver and
10% alloy; diameter is 1.500 inches (±0.003), and the weight is 26.73
grams.
The obverse of the U. S. coin is a portrait rendered in the style of
the coin issued by Iceland. The reverse is a Viking ship coming forward to
the New World with Leif Ericson at the helm. This coin was designed by two
sculptors/engravers of the U.S. Mint. John Mercanti designed the obverse,
and James Ferrell designed the reverse. The designs of the coin are
emblematic of the millennium of the discovery of the New World by Leif
Ericson.
The obverse of the Icelandic coin is an artist's interpretation of the
statue of Leifur Eiríksson made by the sculptor Stirling Calder and
presented to the Icelandic nation in 1930 by the United States Congress on
the occasion of the 1000 year anniversary of the Icelandic Parliament. The
reverse is a stylized drawing of the Icelandic Coat of Arms representing
the four guardians of Iceland, an eagle, a dragon, a giant and a bull,
guarding the north, east, south, and west of Iceland. The designer behind
the Iceland coin is Thröstur Magnússon. He studied at the Icelandic
School of Arts and Crafts and continued his studies at the Gothenburg
School of Arts and Crafts. He has designed several commemorative coins for
the Central Bank of Iceland.
Coin Information Provided Courtesy The
United States Mint. |
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