EDWARDS TO DISCUSS SACAJAWEA COIN DESIGN
WITH U.S. TREASURER AND U.S. MINT ENGRAVERS

BOISE - When U.S. Treasury coin designers fashion a new, year 2000 one-dollar coin, they'll have Pictures of young Idaho Shoshoni Indian women to use as models

Idaho State Treasurer Lydia Justice Edwards will meet in Washington, D.C. Monday with U.S. Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow and engravers from the U.S. Mint at Withrow's request they will discuss the design for the new coin, which will bear the image of Sacajawea. No pictures exist of the young native American woman, so Edwards is taking with her pictures of women from a Shoshoni family that traces its lineage back to her.

The pictures were supplied to Edwards by Saundra Todd of Fort Hall, Idaho, She and her siblings are among those pictured, and count themselves as Sacajawea's granddaughters.

Edwards has Championed Sacajawea who was extolled in the Lewis and Clark journals for her strong character, a role model for young women and a proper image for the new coin. She had asked Withrow to obtain an appointment with the engravers, and Withrow compiled and asked to be Present herself 'We want the coin to feature a young, Native American woman," Edwards said. "Lovely as she might be, the typical American model isn't the appropriate image. Shoshoni women have their own, unique loveliness. The Lewis and Clark journals describe Sacajawea, as 'comely,' and talk of bar unique and heroic character."

From early in the discussion of a new coin, Edwards urged US. Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin to select the image of Sacajawea for the coin. "All Americans, especially young women, need an actual person, not a symbol, to serve as a positive role model,"' Edwards wrote Rubin. "Sacajawea should be respected and honored for what she is, a true-life heroine. "

Rep. Michael Castle, R - Del had insisted that the new coin should bear the imp of the Statue of Liberty. Edwards wrote Castle, inviting him to Idaho to meet with local native Americans, "They, too, extend their hands in warm greeting and welcome, just 0 they did when our Northern Shoshoni provided horses to Lewis and Clark at Salmon, Idaho," she said.

Following Monday's meeting, Edwards will introduce Withrow at a conference on investing being hold in the nation's capitol.

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