US Commemorative Dollar Proof 2000-P Leif Ericson

To this day, many Americans are incorrectly taught that Christopher Columbus “discovered” America. Ignoring the Euro centric telling of history and the ability for a man to discover a place where millions of people were living, this basic tenet of taught history is not in fact correct. Leif Ericson is believed to be the first European to ever set foot in the Americas. Although the dates and exact location of his landfall are not entirely certain, historians mark this ‘discovery’ around 500 years before that of Christopher Columbus. Ericson was the son of Erik the Red, the founder of Greenland. It would appear that Ericson’s family was one of navigators and explorers.

The obverse of the 2000 Proof Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative Silver dollar shows a depiction of Leif Ericson. The obverse designer, veteran US Mint engraver John Mercanti, modeled it after the commemorative coin issued by Iceland. It shows Ericson wearing a traditional Viking military helmet with flowing hair and an almost Greek-like curled beard. The reverse of the coin shows a Viking ship sailing West towards the New World. The figure at the helm of the ship is Leif Ericson with his arms apart as he sees land. Along the edge of the coin is written “Founders of the New World”. The reverse was designed by James Ferrell.

The 2000 Proof Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative Silver dollar has a mintage of 144,748 coins. As it is believed that Ericson made landfall in the New World around the year 1000, this coin commemorates the millennium anniversary of this voyage. If you have any questions regarding this or any commemorative coin, please call our knowledgeable staff at (800) 735-1311.

• Denomination: $1
• Year: 2000
• Diameter: 26.5 mm
• Mint Mark: P
• Thickness: 2 mm
• Grade: Ungraded