Gray Davis served as the 37th Governor of the State of California/Commander in Chief, California National Guard from January 4, 1999 through November 17, 2003.  This individually number coin (039) was presented by Governor Davis early in his first term.

On October 7, 2003, Davis was recalled with 55.4% of the votes in favor of the recall and Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected to replace him as governor. The Bay Area and Los Angeles County were the only regions in California to vote no on the recall. Davis joined Lynn Frazier of North Dakota, who was ousted in 1921, as the only governors in American history to be recalled.