How to Identify the Stone Mountain Memorial Half Dollar

What This Coin Is

Struck only in 1925, the Stone Mountain Memorial Half Dollar was issued to raise funds for the massive Confederate memorial relief carving at Stone Mountain, Georgia. It was designed by sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who worked on the Stone Mountain carving before later creating Mount Rushmore. Its very large mintage makes it one of the most common and affordable classic commemoratives.

Obverse Design & Inscriptions

The obverse shows Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson mounted on horseback, riding side by side. Inscriptions reference the memorial's purpose along with "IN GOD WE TRUST" and the date 1925.

Reverse Design & Inscriptions

The reverse depicts an eagle standing on a large mountain crag, with stars representing the states around the border. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "HALF DOLLAR" appear in the legend.

Size, Weight, Metal, Edge

Standard half dollar specifications: about 30.6mm in diameter, 12.5 grams, 90% silver, reeded edge.

Mint Marks & Where to Find Them

All examples were struck at the Philadelphia Mint and carry no mint mark.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

The two mounted generals on the obverse and the eagle-on-crag reverse are distinctive to this issue and not shared with any other commemorative half dollar of the period, so identification is straightforward once you recognize the design.

Judging Condition at a Glance

Because well over a million pieces were struck — an unusually high mintage for a classic commemorative — and many were saved rather than spent, this is one of the easiest classic commemoratives to find in high grade at modest cost. Check the horses' legs and the generals' figures for wear, and examine the eagle's wing tips and the crag's texture on the reverse; these areas flatten first with circulation.

Authenticity Red Flags

Because this coin is common and inexpensive, elaborate counterfeiting is uncommon, but you should still confirm weight (12.5 grams) and diameter (30.6mm) and check for a magnetic reaction, which indicates a fake. Watch for coins that have been cleaned or artificially retoned to look better than their actual grade — an unnaturally bright or uniformly colored surface can mask hairline scratches or actual wear underneath.