Jamestown 400th Anniversary – 2007

Silver and Gold Celebrating Jamestown’s 400^th Anniversary

Three English ships – the Godspeed, the Discovery, and the Susan Constant – left England in December of 1606 with 105 adventurers on board who planned to spend the next 4.5 months sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to begin the first permanent English settlement in the New World. They arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, in May of 1607. Jamestown was to become the beginning of a long-term settlement effort on the North American continent. Their purpose was two-fold. Backed by wealthy London investors, these new lands were intended to create unimaginable wealth for the investors, but even more importantly, they were intended to create a remarkably similar society based on English law and beliefs in North America. This was obviously a watershed event in American history.

The United States Congress wished to honor this anniversary and Silver Dollar and Five Dollar Gold commemorative coins were authorized for this celebration. Artist Donna Weaver designed the obverse of the Silver Dollar, and it was sculpted by Don Everhart. It depicts the three cultures that were at Jamestown at that time – English settlers, Native Americans, and enslaved Africans who were brought against their will to Jamestown. Although no mention appears on the coin, the third figure is unmistakably a slave from Africa. These three figures form the central vignette of the obverse and behind them is depicted a settler’s home, a stockade fence for protection and the sails of a ship in the harbor. Ironically, above the figures is the word “LIBERTY” on the upper periphery, with “IN GOD WE TRUST” beneath that. Below the figures are the words “FOUNDING JAMESTOWN” and on the lower periphery are the dates “1607 – 2007.”

The reverse of the Silver Dollar was designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Charles Vickers. It depicts the three English ships in full sail with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” on the upper periphery, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” beneath the ships and “ONE DOLLAR” on the lower periphery.

The Commemorative Silver Dollars were struck in both Uncirculated and Proof finishes and a maximum combined mintage of 500,000 was authorized. Both the Uncirculated version and the Proof version were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Total sales exceeded 340 thousand coins combined. The Proof version of the Silver Dollar was also included in the 2007 American Legacy Proof set.

The Five Dollar Gold commemorative coin was also struck in both Uncirculated and Proof finishes. The obverse of the coin was designed by US Mint Chief Engraver John Mercanti. The obverse depicts a rendition of Captain John Smith meeting the Native American Chief Powhatan. There is one of the English ships in the background. They are depicted inside of a circle and above them, also contained in the circle are the words “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Around the outer ring is the words “1607,” “LIBERTY,” “2007,” and “FOUNDING OF JAMESTOWN.”

The reverse of this gold coin was designed by Susan Gamble, and it depicts the remains of the Jamestown Memorial Church. These remains are all that exists today of the original Jamestown settlement. The phrase “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” graces the upper periphery and to the left of the church is the denomination, expressed as “$5,” with “E PLURIBUS UNUM” underneath the church. The lower periphery has “JAMESTOWN MEMORIAL CHURCH.”

The West Point Mint struck both the Uncirculated and Proof versions of this Five Dollar gold coin. Congress had authorized that up to 100,000 of these gold coins could be struck.

Over 65 thousand of the Five Dollar gold coins were sold in all forms and the surcharges benefitted the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation as well as the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

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