Creek Silver Dollars Feature Chief Menawa -- Coin News -- Panda America Online Catalog

New Silver Dollars Feature Creek Chief Menawa

The 2005 Silver Dollar issued by the Sovereign Nation of Poarch Creek Indians features Chief Menawa. Maximum authorized mintages are the same as last year’s historic first issues: 20,000 Brilliant Uncirculated issued at $19.95 and 10,000 Proof issued at $39.95. Each coin comes in a handsome box with a certificate of authenticity. Orders can be sent to the official distributor PandaAmerica, 3460 Torrance Blvd., Suite 100, Torrance, CA 90503; credit card orders can be placed by calling toll-free (800) 472-6327 or e-Mailing sales@pandaamerica.com or on the Internet at www.pandaamerica.com. Add $5.50 per order for shipping and insurance.

Chief Menawa was born about 1765 at the village of Oakfuskee (Alabama) on the Tallapoosa River. He was of Scotch and Indian parents and was reared with pride in his Indian heritage. His birth name was Hothlepoya, meaning "Crazy Trouble Hunter," but the name Menawa was given to him when he became second chief of Oakfuskee. He was a man of wealth and intelligence who was greatly disturbed when he saw white settlers begin to take Indian land and demand the removal of the native inhabitants.
Menawa was a chief of the upper Creeks in the Creek War of 1813-14. Before the American Revolution, the Creeks were untroubled by whites in their huge inland confederation. After the war, southerners began moving into their land and the Creeks split into pro and anti American groups. The anti-American group was called the Red Sticks because they carried red painted sticks into battle a custom left by Tecumseh’s followers to help in battle. The Red Sticks joined the British in the Revolutionary war.

Menawa was shot seven times in the Battle at Horsehoe Bend and lived to crawl away from the battlefield. After recovering, he was forced to surrender and was sent along with his tribe to Oklahoma in 1836. Before leaving, Menawa reportedly stayed up all the night watching sunset and sunrise over Oakfuskee. As he joined his people traveling to an unknown place he said, "last evening I saw the sun set for the last time and it's light shine on the treetops and the land and the water, that I am never to look upon again." Menawa, heartbroken, died on his way to the new Creek territory in the west. His burial place is now unknown.

NOTE THAT CREDIT CARDS WILL NOT BE CHARGED UNTIL COINS ARE READY TO BE SHIPPED -- EXPECTED AROUND NOVEMBER 1, 2005. --