Public Law 103-186, Title I, known as the Jefferson Commemorative Coin Act of 1993, authorized the US Mint to strike the Thomas Jefferson Silver Dollars.
A profile portrait of Thomas Jefferson is shown on the obverse of the coin as designed by T. James Ferrell. Included as well are the inscriptions of THOMAS JEFFERSON, ARCHITECT OF DEMOCRACY, IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, 1743 and 1993.
The reverse shows a view of Jefferson’s home, known as Monticello. Included on this side are the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, ONE DOLLAR, MONTICELLO and the mintmark. It was also designed by T. James Ferrell.
Uncirculated Thomas Jefferson Silver Dollars were struck at the US Mint’s facility in Philadelphia. The proof silver dollars were struck at the US Mint’s facility in San Francisco.
Surcharges on the first 500,000 of the coins sold were to be forwarded to the Jefferson Endowment Fund to "to establish and maintain an endowment to be a permanent source of support for Monticello and its historic furnishings; and for the Jefferson Endowment Fund’s educational programs, including the International Center for Jefferson Studies. Surcharges on the remaining coins sold were to be given to the Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest for the restoration and maintenance of the forest.