The 175th Anniversary of the United States Botanical Garden
The U.S. Botanic Garden is a living plant museum in Washington, D.C., whose creation was rooted in the vision of early leaders like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison and was formally established by Congress in 1820 under President James Madison. The Wilkes Expedition returned to Washington, D.C., with living plants from around the world, creating the U.S. Botanic Garden’s first permanent collection. In 1933, the Garden moved to its present site on Independence Avenue, between First and Third Streets SW in Washington, D.C.
Each year, the Garden welcomes more than one million visitors to its outdoor grounds and Conservatory. The USBG maintains over about 44,000 plants used for display, research, and exchange with other institutions. Notable groups include economic and medicinal species, orchids, carnivorous plants, cacti and more. Currently, the USBG supports food growing and education activities in urban communities in Washington that are experiencing food insecurity. The Garden also works with public gardens, government agencies, and nonprofits to conserve plants and other projects.
In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the law designating the rose as the national floral emblem. A decade later, the U.S. Botanic Garden marked the 175th anniversary of its founding legislation by dedicating new gated outdoor gardens filled with roses. This space was opened to the public in 2006.
A portion of each coin’s surcharge will support the National Fund for the United States Botanic Garden, helping build and maintain the National Garden in Washington, D.C. The 175th Anniversary of the National Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., actually took place in 1995, but this anniversary was commemorated on the 1997 Botanic Garden Silver Dollar.
Coin and Mintage Details
The obverse of the coin depicts the façade of the Botanic Garden building. Above the building, on the upper periphery is the word “LIBERTY” and immediately below the building is the denomination “ONE DOLLAR” followed by the date of issue – “1997”. The “P” mintmark follows below, but just above the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST” while “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” adorns the lower periphery. The obverse was designed by Edgar Z. Steever.
The central vignette on the reverse is a large single rose, and above it is a garland of roses and leaves encircling the top half of the reverse. The roses reference the roses planted in the U.S. Botanic Garden that commemorated the 175th anniversary of the legislation that established the USBG. Below the rose is “UNITED STATES – BOTANIC GARDEN – 1820-1995 – E PLURIBUS UNUM”. This reverse was designed by William C. Cousins.
58,505 uncirculated coins and 189,671 proof coins were struck out of the authorized 500,000 silver dollars to be struck. Some of the uncirculated coins were included in a Coinage and Currency Set that included a Matte Finish 1997-P Jefferson Nickel and a $1.00 Federal Reserve Note. Only 25,000 of these sets were sold. Add this silver dollar to your collection and explore other U.S. silver modern commemorative coins.
