How to Identify the Grant Memorial Gold Dollar

What This Coin Is

The Grant Memorial Gold Dollar was struck in 1922 to mark the 100th anniversary of Ulysses S. Grant's birth, paired with a matching half dollar. Both were sold to fund a memorial in Grant's honor. The gold dollar is one of the shortest and scarcest issues in the classic commemorative gold series.

Obverse Design & Inscriptions

The obverse shows a right-facing bust of Grant in civilian dress. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" arches above, "GRANT" appears below the portrait, and "IN GOD WE TRUST" is worked into the design near the bust.

Reverse Design & Inscriptions

The reverse depicts the log cabin where Grant was born near Point Pleasant, Ohio, with "ONE DOLLAR" and the memorial dates in the design field. The cabin imagery mirrors the matching half dollar's reverse.

Size, Weight, Metal, Edge

The coin follows standard gold dollar specifications: about 15mm in diameter, 1.672 grams, .900 fine gold, with a reeded edge — identical dimensions to the earlier Gold Dollar series and the McKinley Memorial Gold Dollar.

Mint Marks & Where to Find Them

All Grant gold dollars were struck at the Philadelphia Mint and carry no mint mark.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

The most important identification detail is the "star" variety. A small number of early strikes have a tiny five-pointed incuse star punched into the die above the word "GRANT" on the obverse. Coins without the star are far more common; the star variety is scarcer and commands a significant premium, so examine the area directly above "GRANT" closely with magnification. Compare against the McKinley gold dollar by portrait — Grant faces right, McKinley faces left, and their reverse buildings differ (log cabin versus memorial hall).

Judging Condition at a Glance

Like most gold commemoratives, surviving examples tend to grade well since they were mostly saved rather than spent. Check Grant's cheek, ear, and hair curls for wear, and examine the cabin's roofline and logs on the reverse for softness that would indicate circulation or cleaning.

Authenticity Red Flags

Given the star variety's added value, be cautious of a star that looks added after striking, re-punched, or oddly shaped compared to a genuine die-struck incuse star — genuine stars are crisp, uniform, and recessed into the surface as part of the original strike, not scratched or tooled in afterward. Verify weight and diameter against the standard gold dollar specs, watch for soft or blurry devices from cast counterfeits, and have any example claimed as the star variety examined by a reputable grading service before assuming authenticity.