2000 Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative Coins

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CelticKnot Bedrock of the Community United States 12310 Posts	Posted 05/26/2016 02:25 am I was going through my collection and came across a few 16-year-old purchases (and still some of my favorite to date): the 2000 Leif Ericson Millennium Commeorative Coins. The United States Mint released 4 Ericson products in 2000: 1. Uncirculated Silver Dollar 2. Proof Silver Dollar 3. Icelandic Proof Silver Coin (1000 krónur) 4. 2-Coin Proof Set (1 each of the $1 proof and 1000 krónur proof coins) I purchased one of each of the individual coins (not the 2-coin proof set); see pics below. The individual proofs originally sold for $37 and the UNC for $32. Specifics about the program can be found on the US Mint web site here; also here. Coin Update also has a good article about the 2-coin set here. Interestingly, for this program, the U.S. Mint not only struck proof dollars but also struck proof 1000 krónur coins on behalf of the Republic of Iceland. This was a first and I don't believe anything similar has been done since. Also I'm not sure if the Icelandic coins were marketed to Icelanders or just sold here in the U.S. Mintage Data Proof & UNC $1 Max Mintage: 500k (across all product options) Proof $1 Actual Mintage: 144,748 (according to the 2016 Red Book) UNC $1 Actual Mintage: 28,150 (according to the 2016 RB) Proof 1000 Krónur Max Mintage: 150,000 Proof 1000 Krónur Actual Mintage: At least 86,136 (This is the sales figure of the two-coin sets according to Coin Update. This coin is not listed in the 2016 Red Book and I can't find anything definitive online for total sales figures - can anyone help here?) So not unlike some current commemoratives, the proof coins do better in sales than the uncirculated, which can counter-intuitively make the UNCs worth more than the proofs. With a mintage of 28,150, this could be a sleeper. I really enjoy these coins. The designs are simple, yet detailed; regal, yet approachable. Anyway, a few pictures: Packaging and coins: The proofs came in velvety clam shell boxes tucked into velvety holders contained in a box and slip cover, while the UNC got much plainer treatment with a box in a plastic tray inside a slip cover. Obverses: Nice! Reverses: Some of the best reverses you'll see. By the way, the venerable commems posted an excellent (of course) "what if" article on a potential Leif Ericson half dollar that never happened here on CCF. Well worth reading again. Also, the pictures of the two proof coins are MUCH better than the feeble ones I have posted here. Report this Post to the Staff

jbuck Moderator United States 157714 Posts	Posted 05/26/2016 09:35 am They look great! Coin Collector Since 1978 My Avatar My Old Avatar My 7070 My Eisenhower Dollars CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
commems CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives United States 11026 Posts	Posted 05/26/2016 09:59 am Excellent post CK! I enjoyed revisiting these coins. I agree that they each have a very strong and attractive design. I like the fact that the US coin doesn't look "American" which is, of course, appropriate for this particular commemorative. You are right regarding the Mint not striking coins for a foreign government since these coins for Iceland. Of course, the Mint has a long history of striking coins for other countries that dates to 1877 and Venezuela. Until 2000, the last year the US Mint had struck coins for another country was 1984. Over the years, the US Mint has struck proof coins for several nations - Panama and Liberia come to mind, so the proof Iceland coins were not the first in this category. Regarding a sales figure for individually packaged Iceland coins (i.e., outside of the two-piece set): they totaled 15,947 units. So, the total net mintage for the proof 1000 Kronur was 102,083. Hope that helps! PS Thanks for the kind reference to one of my previous posts, much appreciated. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved. Report this Post to the Staff
Warcoinguy Valued Member United States 103 Posts	Posted 05/26/2016 10:45 am My Father bought the 2 proof set from the mint in 2000. He was always showing them off to anyone he could. They are this favorite commemoratives. They do look great in hand! This is just one of many on my list I still need. I didn't know that they sold the Icelandic Proof Silver Coin (1000 krónur) by itself, always thought it was only in the 2 coin set. Report this Post to the Staff
GR58 Bedrock of the Community United States 11951 Posts	Posted 05/26/2016 1:19 pm I do like those coins ... Report this Post to the Staff
Cascade Pillar of the Community United States 7390 Posts	Posted 05/27/2016 2:49 pm Hey, you just reminded me about something I bought for $40 at a non-coin 2013/14 new years auction Edited by Cascade 05/27/2016 2:52 pm Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 157714 Posts	Posted 05/27/2016 4:07 pm Very nice, Cascade! Coin Collector Since 1978 My Avatar My Old Avatar My 7070 My Eisenhower Dollars CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
CelticKnot Bedrock of the Community United States 12310 Posts	Posted 05/27/2016 11:41 pm @Cascade - great set, great photos and great price! Thank you for rounding out this post with those photos. @commems - your posts are what inspire me to (at least attempt to) compose meaningful and useful posts. Thank you for your praise and for the inspiration. Also thank you very much for filling in the gaps - if I can still edit the OP, I'll update it with your mintage info. (edit: it's been too long; can't edit. I'm glad the info is in the thread regardless.) @Warcoinguy - Good luck in your quest to get these. They are definitely worthy coins for any collection. I think I'll try for the two-coin set at some point to round out my collection. So I did a quick ebay scan and the proofs are on sale from $50 to 100. Didn't check the completed listings, but there are 4 pages of them. Very few uncirculateds out there, as is probably to be expected due to the low mintage. Does anyone know what the product codes were for these four options? Edited by CelticKnot 05/27/2016 11:42 pm Report this Post to the Staff
CSOTUS Pillar of the Community 1153 Posts	Posted 05/28/2016 04:32 am I was able to pull the trigger on an unc leif Ericson last year. By far one of my favorite commems. Report this Post to the Staff
commems CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives United States 11026 Posts	Posted 05/28/2016 10:04 am Quote: Does anyone know what the product codes were for these four options? Here you go: 1. Proof Silver Dollar - LF1 2. Uncirculated Silver Dollar - LF2 3. 2-Coin Proof Set - LF3 4. Icelandic Proof Silver Coin (1000 krónur) - LF4 Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved. Report this Post to the Staff
CelticKnot Bedrock of the Community United States 12310 Posts	Posted 05/28/2016 12:34 pm Thanks again, commems. Report this Post to the Staff
CelticKnot Bedrock of the Community United States 12310 Posts	Posted 10/09/2016 11:26 am I subscribe to the "Lessons that Make Cents" email newsletter from the U.S. Mint, and in this month's letter, the Ericson coins are explored. In it there is some history about Ericson and more background on the coin program and the Icelandic Proof Silver Coin. https://www.usmint.gov/kids/teacher...C/index.html Report this Post to the Staff
GR58 Bedrock of the Community United States 11951 Posts	Posted 10/09/2016 11:57 am Very interesting read . Thanks for posting Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 64158 Posts	Posted 01/29/2025 5:28 pm To bring this topic back to life: There is a small conversation in another topic about these. http://goccf.com/t/102046&whichpage=594#4238643 I may have to look into getting a set. Thanks for this topic Celtic. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 47/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
CelticKnot Bedrock of the Community United States 12310 Posts	Posted 01/29/2025 8:03 pm Glad you enjoyed it, Dearborn. Crazy to think this set is now approaching 25 years old! Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 64158 Posts	Posted 01/30/2025 06:40 am 25 years? wow - no wonder I don't remember this set - my brain does a full data dump at 24 years, 11 months to make room for new data.. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 47/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
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