I got mine. Did you get yours?

[EZ_E]

I ordered 10 sets from the mint and am waiting for their arrival now. I just checked them out on e-bay. They are selling for an average of $65/set. Not bad considering a $20 investment. I personally think that this is a great set since it contains the peace medal.

 

What are your thoughts, feelings and attitudes about the modern US Mint market?

 

What will be the future performance of these sets? Keep in mind that the coin & currency set had 50,000 of these identical medals which boosts their mintage totals.

 

 

 

2004 Westward Journey Nickel Series Coin & Medal Set

 

 

The four United States Mint products presented in this collector’s set form an introduction to the remarkable tale of exploration led by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark two hundred years ago.

The Jefferson Peace Medal included here is a silver-plated bronze replica of the medals commissioned by our nation’s third President in 1801. Those medals were struck in three sizes and it is estimated that the Corps of Discovery passed out several hundred of them to the American Indian leaders they encountered along their journey westward. The Peace and Friendship handshake design featured on the reverse was subsequently used for 11 of the first 12 Presidential medals produced by the United States Mint.

 

To complement this silver-plated medal, the United States Mint has added a 2004-dated proof golden dollar, bearing the distinctive San Francisco “S” mint mark. As the brave young Shoshone woman who helped direct the expedition through the vast, uncharted territories of the American West, Sacagawea’s contributions to the success of the expedition were both numerous and significant. She is depicted on the coin’s obverse carrying her infant son, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, nicknamed “Pomp” by Captain Clark. The child was born February 11, 1805, as the expedition made camp with the Mandan Tribe in what is today a part of North Dakota.

 

Completing this set are the first two five-cent coins struck for the Westward Journey Nickel Series™ in commemoration of the bicentennial of both the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the Lewis & Clark expedition, begun the following year. These stunning nickels also carry the “S” mint mark emblematic of proof quality United States coinage. The first new nickel, released in the Spring of 2004, carried the Peace and Friendship handshake design to a circulating coin for the first time. It was followed in August with the release of the Keelboat nickel, which features a rendition of the stout river-going vessel that carried the Corps of Discovery and all their supplies along the Missouri River, playing a pivotal role in the ultimate success of their journey. These coins represent the first changes incorporated into the nickel’s design since 1938.

 

Only 25,000 sets were produced for 2004.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[cpm9ball]

I received four Westward Journey Nickel & Medal sets last week, but it was a bit of a disappointment. Two of the proof Golden Dollars have defects, but I don't have equipment for close examination to determine if they could be considered errors. One looks like a die chip may have marred the field to the left of E Pluribus Unum on the reverse. It is visible to the naked eye. The other dollar has a similar, but much smaller defect in the field just above the eagle's wing and below its head.

Two of the proof nickels have nicks on the face of Jefferson...one on the cheek and one on the jaw. Of course, on this frosted surface it is very noticeable with a loupe.

The replica of the Peace Medal is not very impressive. I know that it is a silver-plated bronze medal, but it reminds me of something you might find in a box of Cracker Jacks.

 

Even though I knew that the Mint had sold all 25,000 of these sets, I called them immediately hoping that, by chance, they may have held some back for situations just like this. No such luck! I have other proofs that I can replace them with in the sets, but still..................Chris

[EZ_E]

Bummer! Sorry to hear about the disappointments. I haven't personally seen the peace medal yet but I thought that it would be actually kind of cool. Guess not, eh?

[HaydenTubbs]

I personally don't like modern coins,(give me a seated half dime and I'll be content),but these outrageous value jumps in recent moderns such as 04 clad PSs,and Lewis&Clark coins have got me re-thinking.

[michael]

wow you did good victor

 

sell 8 sets and keep two then you will be into the two sets for free and still have a nice chunk of change in your pocket and buy something else you need for your collection

 

i love it

 

free coins

 

 

michael

[cpm9ball]

Have you gotten your sets yet? Let me know what you think of the Peace Medal and if the proofs are defect-free.

 

Chris

[EZ_E]

Nope, not yet. I'm still waiting but I received an e-mail from the mint saying that they have been shipped. I'll let you know.

[EZ_E]

Have you gotten your sets yet? Let me know what you think of the Peace Medal and if the proofs are defect-free.

 

Chris

 

The Peace Medals were a great disappointment. This is the irony of it all since the medal is what got me keyed up to the idea of the sets in the first place. They are very cheap-looking with poor strikes and in low relief. Many of the planchets were dinged prior to the silver plating. The proofs looked good at a cursory glance.

 

I was going to keep a set or two but I see no point in it since the set holds absolutely no appeal to me.

[cpm9ball]

EZ, it sounds like your disappointment is greater than mine. I, too, purchased the sets for the Peace Medal replica. Probably the only good that may come from my sets is the fact that two of the Golden Dollars have errors which I will submit for attribution. But, it looks like the only alternative you might have would be to resell them on EBay. Since there were only 25,000 sets made, I'm sure there are many collectors who were unable to acquire them through the Mint. However, the question then arises, "Should I express my opinion about the Peace Medal (toy) or not?"

 

Good luck!

 

Chris

[EZ_E]

As long as collectors continue to buy such trinkets from the US Mint then there is no motivation for the mint to improve its products. I've seen foiled covered chocolate coins with more detail and eye-appeal than these medals.

 

Oh, I did list them all in one lot on e-bay.

[cpm9ball]

EZ , I saw your listing on EBay, and I also saw that Hoot sold some, too. I think I'm going to keep mine, at least for now, even though the peace medal sucks.

I just have a gut feeling that their value will go much higher because of their scarcity. We'll see.

 

Chris

[EZ_E]

Well, there were 50K of them in the L&C coin/currency set and aother 25K with these sets so that doesn't exactly make them scarce, IMO. They will probably issue them again this year with this year's designs, too. That will make a grand total of 100K, so, now is the time to sell with all of the hype.

[michael]