The 100th Anniversary of Ulysses S Grant’s Birth
The centennial of General (and President) Ulysses S. Grant’s birth approached as 1921 came to a close. Legislation was passed authorizing commemorative silver half dollars and gold dollars, the proceeds of which were intended to help fund community buildings and infrastructure projects related to Ulysses S. Grant’s centenary in Ohio. The two coins were supplemented by additional varieties also having a small incuse five-pointed star on the obverse of some of these coins. 5,000 of the gold dollars and silver half dollars were minted with the star. Congress authorized that 10,000 gold dollars and 250,000 silver half dollars would be struck.
Design Details
Now that the legislation was passed, the coin needed to be designed. The Commission of Fine Arts, led by sculptor-member James Earle Fraser (designer of the Buffalo Nickel), asked him to recommend an artist capable of completing the designs to a high standard. Fraser selected his wife, Laura Gardin Fraser, who had just completed the 1921 Alabama Commemorative Half Dollar.
Laura Fraser, pleased at being selected to design the coins, went to work immediately. She created models for both the half dollar and the one-dollar gold coin that were identical, except in naming the denomination. The full Commission of Fine Arts committee approved both models. Fraser based the portrait on a Matthew Brady Civil War photograph of Grant.
The designs met the requirements of the CFA and the U.S. Mint. The obverse of the half dollar has a profile of Grant, in a military coat, facing right. Around the top of the obverse, the periphery is “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and the denomination “HALF DOLLAR” on the bottom of the obverse periphery. The name “ULYSSES S” is behind Grant’s portrait in two lines, while his last name “GRANT” is to the right, in front of his portrait. On the STAR variety, there is a small five-pointed incuse star above “GRANT”. Fraser used her middle initial (maiden name) “G” as the designer’s initials at the base of the bust.
The reverse depicts Grant’s birthplace with a wooden fence around it and trees. The motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” surmounts the top periphery and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” is to the left side of the field. The Gold Dollar design is exactly the same except for the size and stated denomination.
The Mint struck and the Grant Memorial Commission sold 67,405 of the plain variety of half dollars. They also sold 4,256 silver half dollars with the Star variety. For the Gold Dollars, they struck and sold 5,016 of each for the Plain and Star varieties. Find what your collection is missing and explore our exceptional assortment of U.S. classic silver commemorative coins.
