Coins - Millennium Coin and Currency Set Booklet

The Millennium Coin and Currency Set Booklet contained the same front cover design. The exploding fireworks over a dark background contrasts with the blue border. Instead of a separate title for the booklet, the Mint kept "The United States Millennium Coinage and Currency Set" which was used throughout the contents of the coin and currency set.

Though few in number of pages, this coin and currency set booklet provides historical commentary about coinage and currency through millennia. Several pages feature specific comments about the coins and currency of this set. 

The first page begins by commenting on early money. The text goes on to explain the contents of the Millennium Coin and Currency Set are annual issues rather than special commemorative coins and currency. But, each of the three monetary items began in the year 2000 and contains the number "2000" as either the year (coins) or in the serial number (one dollar note). 

The story of the Sacagawea golden dollar coin tells of the legislation, the selection of the subject and the selection of the designs for the obverse and the reverse. 

Continuing, the booklet contains more information about the subject behind the golden dollar coin and more history behind the American Eagle silver dollar coin. 

"Courage Undaunted" explains how Sacagawea contributed to the exploration of the newly purchased Louisiana Territory and describes how important she was to Lewis and Clark's expedition. 

"The Story of the American Eagle Silver Dollar" tells why and how the coins began in 1986 and concludes with, "Due to its multiple roles as an affordable investment, a beautiful collectible and a thoughtful gift, it has become the most popular silver coin in the world with almost 90 million coins in circulation." 

In the last two pages, the coin and currency set booklet continues with commentary about the currency in the set and about the bald eagle as the national bird. 

The booklet provides information about the design of the one dollar note. In particular, they include explanations of the unfinished pyramid and the all-seeing eye on the back of the note. Interestingly, they  observe that more of the George Washington one dollar notes have been printed than any other banknote in the history of the world.

Completing the coin and currency set booklet, the Mint tells the story of the Bald Eagle's selection as the national bird and provides history about the eagle on the Great Seal along with our coins and currency.

Benjamin Franklin, the great statesman and contributor to much of our country's early development, wanted the Wild Turkey as the national bird. Many of the other founding fathers disagreed. Though beneficial as a food source in the early development of our country, the wild turkey just does not portray the same majesty as the American Bald Eagle. Thankfully, the bald eagle became not only the national bird but also the icon of a proud new nation. Thankfully, too, it is the eagle that is featured on many of our coins instead of the turkey.

On the back of the Millennium Coin and Currency Set Booklet fireworks shower the black background with their bright, celebratory colors. 

The Millennium Coin and Currency Set included the burnished golden dollar coin featuring Sacagawea, the American Eagle Silver Dollar coin minted in West Point and the George Washington One Dollar Federal Reserve Note currency with "2000" in the serial number from the first printing in the year 2000. The US Mint specially made these annually issued coins and currency to commemorate the newly "minted" year 2000 in the Millennium Limited Edition Set.