The 2004 Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Silver Dollar was struck by the Mint to mark two hundred years since the start of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was released on May 12th of that year in both proof and uncirculated condition.

Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led an expedition into the then mostly unexplored regions of the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase at the request of President Thomas Jefferson. Their primary mission was to find a navigable water route through the continent, of which their was none. But the expedition did succeed in making contact with several Native American tribes, discovered numerous plants and animals as well as offering a firm claim on the Pacific Northwest.

These coins were authorized by Congress through the Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 106-126). In the act, up to 500,000 of the coins were to be struck, based on demand.

The obverse of each 2004 Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Silver Dollar contains an image of the leaders of the group – Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Surrounding the duo are the inscriptions of LEWIS & CLARK BICENTENNIAL, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, 1804, 1806 and 2004. The obverse was designed by United States Mint sculptor/engraver Donna Weaver.

For the reverse, a rendition of the Jefferson Peace Medal presented to Native American Chiefs met on the expedition is shown along with two feathers representative of those Native American nations. Also shown are seventeen stars representing the seventeen states that were a part of the Union at the time of the expedition. Included as well are the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DOLLAR and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse was also designed by Donna Weaver.

Surcharges collected on the sale of these silver dollars was divided with two-thirds going to the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial and one-third to the National Park Service to fund the bicentennial commemoration activities.