RECALL: Lewis and Clark 2004 Coin and Pouch Set

On their Consumer Awareness Hot Items page, the US Mint currently has an article about the 2004 United States Mint Lewis and Clark Coin and Pouch Sets Containing Pouches From the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio.

The Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio made some of the Handcrafted American Indian pouches included with the 2004 Lewis and Clark Coin and Pouch Sets. Though they were a member of COTA (Circle of Tribal Advisors) when selected to make the pouches, they were not officially recognized by federal and state authorities as an official Indian tribe. Furthermore, their artists were not recognized as official Indian artisans. As such, their artistry cannot be marketed as handcrafted by an American Indian under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

A limited number of the 2004 Lewis and Clark Coin and Pouch sets were sold from September through December 2004. The pouches were made by a number of different Indian artisans, and their names are included in the set. The tribe of the artisan can be found on the included Certificate of Authenticity.

Only those 2004 Lewis and Clark Pouch Sets with pouches made by Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio artists are being recalled. On their web site, the US Mint offers two different types of returns for the pouches not officially American Indian handcrafted. 

You can return the whole set – coin, pouch and packaging showing the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio made the pouch via the following US Mint instructions (COA = “Certificate of Authenticity”):

“Members of the public who own a 2004 United States Mint Lewis and Clark Coin and Pouch Set containing a pouch produced by the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio may return the set, along with the COA, to the United States Mint. Those who return such sets to the United States Mint will receive a payment of $130.00 for each set, representing the original sales price of the product ($120.00), plus $10.00 for each set to defray shipping, handling, and insurance charges.”

If you want to keep the coin, but want to be re-imbursed for the pouch, you must include the pouch and certifying paperwork:

“The Owners of a 2004 United States Mint Lewis and Clark Coin and Pouch Set who desire to keep the Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Silver Dollar may return the pouch, along with the COA from the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio, for a prorated refund of $90.00, representing the prorated sales price of the pouch ($80.00), plus $10.00 for each pouch to defray shipping, handling, and insurance charges.”

They also add pertinent shipping instructions and remind you to include your own information in the package:

“To receive a refund, send the 2004 United States Mint Lewis and Clark Coin and Pouch Sets, or pouches, along with the COAs indicating that the pouches were made by a member of the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio, by insured mail or overnight delivery to United States Mint, ATTN: Indian Arts & Crafts Return, 801 9th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001. Inside of the shipping package be sure to include return address mailing information for the refund, along with a note indicating that the item is to be directed to the Indian Arts & Crafts Return.”

This detail and more can be found on the US Mint’s web site: 2004 United States Mint Lewis and Clark Coin and Pouch Sets Containing Pouches From the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band of Ohio.