Silver and Gold Celebrating Jamestown’s 400th Anniversary
In December 1606, three English ships, the Godspeed, the Discovery, and the Susan Constant, departed England carrying 105 settlers. After a voyage of approximately four and a half months across the Atlantic, the expedition arrived in Virginia in May 1607 and established the settlement of Jamestown. Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States and marked the beginning of sustained English colonization in North America.
The expedition was organized by the Virginia Company of London and financed by private investors who hoped the colony would generate economic returns through trade and natural resources. At the same time, English leaders sought to extend English political institutions, legal traditions, and cultural practices to North America. Although Jamestown faced significant challenges in its early years, it laid the foundation for a long-term English presence and governance on the continent.
The United States Congress wished to honor the anniversary of the establishment of Jamestown, and silver dollars and five-dollar gold commemorative coins were authorized to be minted.
2007 Jamestown 400th Anniversary Silver Dollar
The 2007 Jamestown 400th Anniversary Silver Dollar was sculpted by Don Everhart and designed by Donna Weaver. It depicts English settlers, Native Americans, and enslaved Africans. 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. 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 was designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Charles L. Vickers. It depicts the three 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 2007 Jamestown 400th Anniversary Silver Dollar was struck in uncirculated and proof finishes, with a combined maximum mintage of 500,000. Both the uncirculated and proof coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Total sales exceeded 340 thousand coins combined. The proof silver dollar was also included in the 2007 American Legacy Proof set.
2007 Jamestown 400th Anniversary Gold $5 Coin
The Jamestown 400th Anniversary Gold $5 Coin was also struck in uncirculated and proof finishes. The obverse of the coin was designed by John Mercanti. The obverse depicts 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 are the words “1607,” “LIBERTY,” “2007,” and “FOUNDING OF JAMESTOWN.”
The reverse of this gold coin was designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Don Everhart. The reverse depicts the remains of the Jamestown Memorial Church. 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 the 2007 Jamestown 400th Anniversary Gold $5 Coin, and Congress authorized the striking of up to 100,000 of these gold coins. Over 65,000 of the five-dollar gold coins were sold.
The surcharges from the silver and gold coins benefited the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. Expand your collection today and shop our assortment of U.S. classic silver commemorative coins and modern U.S. gold commemorative coins.
