Plymouth peace treaty to grace new Sacagawea $1 American coin

A peace treaty between the Wampanoag and Pilgrims in 1621 will be depicted on a $1 coin going into circulation next year.

On the tails side of the coin, the image shows two arms extended — one belongs to Ousamequin, the Wampanoag’s Massasoit, or supreme sachem, who is reaching out to offer a peace pipe to Plymouth Colony Gov. John Carver. Across the top it reads: "United States of America"; across the bottom: "Wampanoag Treaty 1621."

The $1 coin, which has the image of Sacagawea on the heads side, is the third in a series of coins that will depict Native American historical moments, according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. Mint.

"It’s pretty cool," said Ramona Peters, a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag and a tribe historian. "Artistically it could have been better. It could have included some background that gave you more of the northeastern flair."

One problem she pointed out in the design is that "the wampum beads are too small" on Ousamequin’s wrist. The U.S. Mint press release also refers to the Pokanoket Wampanoag, but Pokanoket refers to a territory, not a tribe, Peters said. (There is a Pokanoket Wampanoag based in Bristol, R.I., but it is not federally recognized.)

"We are honored that the United States Mint has chosen to acknowledge our great Sachem Ousamequin and the significance of the 1621 treaty to American and Wampanoag history," Mashpee Wampanoag chairman Cedric Cromwell said in a prepared statement Tuesday.

"As the first tribe to meet the Pilgrims, the alliance forged by this treaty ensured the European settlers’ survival during their first difficult years here."

The coin memorializes the treaty entered into between the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims in March of 1621, seven months before the first Thanksgiving, said Karin Goldstein, curator of Plimoth Plantation, a living history museum that chronicles early encounters between European settlers and Native Americans.

"It is pretty exciting," Goldstein said. "To actually get something from Massachusetts on a national coin is wonderful."

In an effort to reach the peace agreement, the Pilgrims were approached first by Samoset, who after a series of encounters that also included Squanto, set up a meeting between Ousamequin and Carver. In the meeting, which required the Pilgrims to send Edward Winslow as a hostage, the Wampanoag and Pilgrims agreed over "strong water" (alcohol) not to steal from or hurt each other, and to protect each other if they were attacked, Goldstein said.

Plimoth Plantation was consulted by the U.S. Mint, Goldstein said. Linda Coombs, a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) who was employed by the plantation at the time, worked with the mint providing the history that resulted in the design.

Source: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/12/02/us_coin_to_honor_wampanoag_treaty/