Caption: "Louisiana Purchase"
Coin Issued: May 20, 2002 - the 3rd coin in 2002
Description: The coin features a map of the United States with the outline of the Louisiana Purchase.
A trumpet with notes of music lies above the map. A Brown Pelican is located below and to the left of the map.
The Brown Pelican is the State Bird of Louisiana.
The use of pesticides in the early 1960's caused the Brown Pelican to stop nesting and by the mid-60's it had virtually disappeared.
The Federal Government declared the Brown Pelican an endangered species in 1970.
As a result of efforts to protect the Pelican's habit and a breeding program using fledglings from Florida,
the Brown Pelican has made significant progress toward recovery.
The Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the size of the country in 1803. The price? Just 4 cents per acre.
Statehood: April 30, 1812
Order of Statehood: 18th State
Engraver: John Mercanti
Number of Coins Minted:
| Denver: | 402,204,000 |
| Philadelphia: | 362,000,000 |
| |
| Total: | 764,204,000 |
| 
