Native American Collection

Owner Comments:

While men did the fighting over centuries of frequent war in the wake of European colonization in what is today the Southeastern part of the United States, the Cherokee were largely a matrifocal culture. In fact, children were considered part of the tribe of which their mother was a part regardless of whether their father came from the same tribe. Children who had a father who was a Cherokee and a mother of European descent were not considered part of any tribe at all. Even decisions about ascension to leadership posts were subject to the tribe’s women elders, not the men. As such, even though a man features on the obverse of the coin, this is a great option for collectors who honor the important roles of women in society.

On the reverse is an animal that is a consistent favorite at zoos. The playful otter is shown resting upon a rock with its tail sticking into the water. Fans of flipping around in and diving into the water, the amphibious creatures are commonly found in Georgia and other parts of the South. They enjoy eating fish but also eat animals like turtles and crayfish.