Coins - Botanic Garden Coin
and Currency Set Booklet
For the Botanic Garden Coin and Currency Set Booklet, the US Mint used the green marbling, the muted
reds for the roses and the background creams in the same design as they used on the outer sleeve. In the
central green marbled box, the Booklet in the Coin and Currency Set was titled "A Living Memorial to Our
Founding Fathers: The United States Botanic Garden."
After opening the booklet, the reader sees more of the botanical artistry and text on a cream
background.
The first two pages of the coin and currency set booklet include a message from the Executive Director
of the United States Botanic Garden. He begins by describing his amazement about the origin of this national
treasure and comments, "...the garden was built during a time when imagination and raw materials were the only
tools."
His message describing the changes planned for the United States Botanic Garden continues to the opposite page
with an aerial drawing of the improvements. He further explains how the Botanic Garden Commemorative Silver Dollar
coin and this coin and currency set will help fund the new plans.
The following pages in the coin and currency set booklet describe the efforts by our
Founding Fathers who set the stage for the nation's garden.
George Washington enjoyed agriculture on a larger scale on his plantation, but his true enjoyment came
from his "little garden" at Mount Vernon that he tended himself. He treasured and personally
cared for the roots, seedlings, seeds and nuts that came to him from many sources. His botanical
interests along with his "little garden" gave him the idea for a national display of plants.
The initial idea began with Washington but continued with Thomas Jefferson. He, like Washington before him,
had a keen interest in botany and a desire to share his findings with many people. The contributions of
both men are recognized with the coin and currency set via the nickel coin for Jefferson and the dollar currency
for Washington.
Both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison continued to push for a national garden during their
presidencies.
Similar to Washington and Jefferson's homes, a beautiful landscape surrounded the home of
James Madison.
Finally, the national tribute to plants was formally approved via legislation signed by President
James Monroe on May 8, 1820.
The next pages in the coin and currency set's booklet tell of the garden's early
days.
In 1838, Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, funded by the federal government, took six ships and 440 men around the
world. After their four-year, 87,000 mile journey, Wilkes and his men returned with "over 10,000 plant
specimens and seeds and over 250 living plants."
Lieutenant Wilkes and his team not only gained legendary status, their efforts spurred others to help build
the national botanical treasure with both money and plants.
In 1931, the foundation began for what is the current conservatory.
The Garden's French Facade entrance shown in the booklet is the also on the Botanic Garden
Commemorative Silver Dollar coin's obverse.
The booklet ends with credits for the photography and botanical artistry used throughout.
The back of the booklet shows the full blown rose in all its botanical glory.
The Botanic Garden Coin and Currency Set provides a
beautiful Botanic Garden commemorative silver dollar coin highlighting the national treasure along with
the nickel coin recognizing Jefferson's contributions and the dollar currency honoring Washington's
original idea.
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