2019-04-04 Thu

Leif Erikson was the Norse explorer from Iceland, he is best known as first European to have set foot on continental North America before Christopher Columbus. Leif Erikson was the second son of Erik the red, the one who had established a settlement in Greenland after he was exiled from Iceland. It is said that he had visited Norway in around 1000 where he was converted of Christianity by Olaf I and then again he was sent back to Greenland to spread the message of Christianity.

The United States of America had issued a commemorative one dollar with his theme in the year 2000. The obverse of this coin has a portrait of Leif Ericson facing towards the right. The reverse of this coin depicts Viking Ship under full sail coming toward the New World with Leif Ericson at the helm.

Image Courtesy: usmint.gov