One aspect of coin collecting that I really enjoy is understanding the motivation for creating the  coin’s design.

The Discoverers Dala is based on engravings by John Webber. John Webber was the official artist on Captain Cook’s ship when Hawaii was discovered. Below are the portraits used by the Royal Hawaiian Mint to create the obverse design of the $5 Discoverers Dala (the portraits originally was used on the Ho’omaha’o Dala design)

 

 

The use of the John Webber portraits is based on the official RHM announcement on September 14, 2007 .

 

Below is the image of the 2000 Ho’omaha’o Dala design.