The first coins issued by a Sovereign Indian Nation were the 2002 Shawnee Silver Dollar and Five Dollar gold piece featuring Chief “Shooting Star” Tecumseh and his brother, Chief Tenskwatawa “The Prophet.” The 2006 Shawnee coins picture the same two leaders, but this time Tenskwatawa appears on the Silver Dollar and Tecumseh on the Five Dollar gold coin.

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The Prophet Tenskwatawa 2006 Silver Dollar is available in Brilliant Uncirculated for $29 (limited to 50,000) and Proof for $49 (limited to 25,000). The 2006 Proof Five Dollars (limited to 5,000) is minted from 1/5 oz. of pure .999 fine gold, and is available for $246. Each Shawnee coin comes in a custom presentation box with a certificate of authenticity. They can be ordered from official distributor Panda Americe, 3460 Torrance Blvd., Suite 100, Torrance, CA 90503; credit card orders can be placed by calling us toll free at 800-472-6327 Monday to Friday, 9-5 PST, or at www.PandaAmerica.com. Prices are subject to change, and shipping is extra. Earlier issues in the Shawnee series are also available.

The Prophet (1775-1837) and his brother Techumseh (1768-1813) were among the best-known and most feared Indians of the nineteenth century. They were Shawnee leaders of a fervent movement to instill Indian unity in the Ohio Valley from 1805 through the War of 1812. Angered by the Jefferson administration's attempts to gain Indian lands through piecemeal cessions, the Prophet preached resistance. He and his brother also rejected Jeffersonian suggestions about Indian assimilation, and urged instead that Indians retain their own culture. By 1811 his resistance movement had led to sporadic warfare in the Old Northwest. But in November of that year, William Henry Harrison routed the Prophet and his allies near Tippecanoe in the Indiana Territory … which was the inspiration for Harrison's presidential campaign slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler too."

Tecumseh stood six feet tall, was a spellbinding orator, regally handsome, courageous in battle … and was possibly the greatest native leader to step forward since the Europeans came in 1492. Tecumseh was also a man of learning - he studied the Bible and world history -- and compassion. More than once he intervened to prevent the torture of prisoners, a common practice among both natives and whites. Tecumseh protested the poor treatment of Indians by joining the British against the Americans in the War of 1812. As a brigadier general, he led 2,000 warriors. Tecumseh fought at Frenchtown, Raisin River, Fort Meigs, and Fort Stephenson. His last battle was the Battle of the Thames at Chatham, Ontario, where, clothed in Indian deerskin garments, he was killed leading his warriors.