Crow Tribe funds new currency with collectible coin

By Andrew Turck
Big Horn County News

It turns out the Crow Tribe weren’t just aiming to make a shiny souvenir when they released a silver coin celebrating the Battle of the Little Bighorn. They were looking to jump-start a new currency system.

Ceivert LaForge, director of the Crow Tribal LLC Department, said the Tribe, with full backing from the Executive Branch, will use the coin in a marketing strategy to help fund five sets of “Chief series” coins made of precious metals and depicting the five chiefs who had the most influence in establishing the reservation.

LaForge said the Chief series, unlike the commemorative coin, would be circulated through the Tribe as currency. The first three sets in the series are scheduled for release between Aug. 15 and 19 at Crow Fair.