i plan on doing a lot of reading during my hiatus. i picked up 3 books last week. one large tome on the life of teddy Roosevelt, another on th myan/incan culture and stephen ambrose's book undaunted courage about meriweather lewis and thomas jefferson. i am about halfway through the book on lewis. they finally reached the pacific and are preparing to head back. when i read the remark by clark "ocien in view o! the joy", i got to thinking about the 2004-2005 5 cent pieces. the book describes the construction and use of the keelboat in detail. several times lewis gave indian chiefs the jefferson medal with the "hand shake", the bison is everywhere, and of course the ocean in view comment. reading this history really make one realize the importance of the exposition and makes the nickels special. the presence of sacagawea was tremendously helpful in their travels. read some history and your coins will mean more to you. please excuse the typing, one handed you know. http://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-one-armed-man.238184/
I just finished a book called, Lewis & Clark-"Through Indian Eyes". Told from a Native American perspective, the book shows mainly that the Corps of Discovery really didn't discover much. Most of the trails and water routes were already known by Indians and French fur trappers who had been there before.
I could not agree more, sonlarson. I collect coins because of the history behind them, of the people who used them, their lives and travails, and of the times in which they lived.
true, the purpose was to see if there was a way to reach the pacific by a water route and expand trade and agriculture. it was also a scientific trip in that they studied and documented several species of plants, birds, and animals. sure the french and Indians knew, but they were't telling. most of the Indians had already met the white man and knew how to barter before Lewis and Clark met them. i might find that book, always best to get both sides. you learn more that way. so far, there was only one mention of money. lewis offered one of the Indian a silver dollar as part of a trade for a canoe. the Indian declined, he wanted guns and ammo.
03/10/1807 clark is given his compensation for the trip. land warrants for 1600 acres and back pay in the amount of $6,896. paid in coins! doesn't mention what kind, spanish, mexican, us half dollars, dollars, silver or gold? wonder how he carried it out? wheelbarrow?
