The portrait in left profile of Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States from 1801 to 1809, is surrounded with the lettering "LIBERTY" and the motto: "IN GOD WE TRUST", engraver's initials under the portrait.

In the middle, a rendition of the reverse of the original Indian Peace Medal, designed by Jefferson and used by Lewis and Clark during their expedition, represents, Underneath a Tomahawk and a calumet, two clasped hands: on the left a US soldier's one and on the right the one of a native American wearing a silver band adorned with an American eagle. Over this is written the date of the expedition "1803", and underneath that the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM". All is surrounded with the legend "LOUISIANA PURCHASE", the face value and the lettering "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", engraver's initials to the right.