Grant Memorial Half Dollar

The Grant Memorial half dollar is one of the classic early commemorative half dollars issued by the United States Mint. It was struck to mark the centennial of the birth of Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War general and 18th president, and to help fund a memorial in his honor.

The series is notable among collectors because it exists in two distinct varieties from the same 1922 date: a common version and a much scarcer version bearing a small incuse star above the word GRANT on the obverse. That star variety is one of the most sought-after rarities in the entire classic commemorative half dollar series.

Congress authorized the coin in 1922 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Grant's birth in 1822, with proceeds intended to support commemorative activities and monuments associated with his birthplace in Point Pleasant, Ohio. The design was created by sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser, one of the leading medalists of the era.

Soon after the coin's release, a small star was added above Grant's name on some dies, apparently to distinguish an early striking, though the exact reasoning has been debated by researchers for decades. Because the star-variety coins were struck in far smaller numbers than the no-star coins, they quickly became a scarcity within the series.

Like many early commemoratives, the Grant half dollar was sold directly to the public at a premium over face value by the sponsoring memorial association, and sales were sluggish, leaving unsold coins to be returned and in some cases melted.

The obverse features a right-facing portrait bust of Ulysses S. Grant with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arched above and HALF DOLLAR below; the word GRANT appears beneath the bust, and on the rare variety a tiny five-pointed star sits just above that word. The reverse depicts Grant's log-cabin birthplace near Point Pleasant, Ohio, with a flag, rising sun, and a wreath, along with the legend GRANT MEMORIAL and the dates of his birth and death.

The coin is struck in 90% silver, standard for classic commemorative half dollars, with a diameter matching the regular half dollar of the era and a reeded edge. Distinguishing the star from no-star variety requires close examination with magnification just above the word GRANT on the obverse; the star is small and easily overlooked, which has led to genuine specimens being misidentified in both directions.

The common no-star Grant half dollar is one of the more affordable classic commemoratives in circulated to moderately uncirculated grades, though gem uncirculated examples with strong luster command a real premium. The star variety, by contrast, is consistently one of the most expensive coins in the commemorative half dollar series, with even worn examples valued well into four figures and choice uncirculated pieces reaching much higher.

Condition and eye appeal matter greatly for both varieties, since the coin's open fields show contact marks and toning readily. Because counterfeit or altered stars have occasionally surfaced, buyers of the star variety typically seek coins certified by a major third-party grading service.