1922 Grant Memorial Gold Dollar. Star. MS-67 (ICG). A delightful Superb Gem with blended powder-blue and honey-gold shades. The fields are bathed in an intense matte-like luster courtesy of swirling die polish visible beneath a glass. Strong eye appeal and virtually no trace of handling. <p>In 1921, the Ulysses S. Grant Centenary Memorial Association was established to raise funds for monuments, civic buildings and roads, as well as celebratory activities, including through the sales of commemorative silver half dollars and gold dollars. Approved by Congress in February 1922, Laura Gardin Fraser, who also designed the 1921 Alabama half dollar was tapped to design the coins. The Grant design, shared across both denominations, exhibits a bust of Grant on the obverse and a representation of his childhood home surrounded in trees in Ohio. The Association placed a small star on the obverse of a select number of the coins to help generate interest, and by extension increase sales. Originally intended to be used only on the gold dollar, a small number of half dollars were also struck with the star. The gold dollar was a success and the total authorized mintage of 10,000 coins -- 5,000 of each with and without the star -- were all sold out at the retail price of $3 per coin. Despite the revenue generated, none of the planned monuments were built, though the festivities did go on as planned. Thanks to their small size and careful preservation, most examples today are in Choice and Gem Mint State. Superb Gem Mint State specimens are scarce, but well worth seeking out as near perfect demonstrations of the engravers art in miniature.</p> From the Dr. Paul and Rosalie Zito Collection.
