Commems Collection Classic: Quick Bits #26 - Stone Mtn Horses

For years, I've read US commemorative coin reference books, but don't recall coming across a reference to the names of the horses ridden by General Robert E. Lee or General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson on the 1925 Stone Mountain Memorial half dollar. I was always curious.

As collectors of the classic series are well aware, the obverse of the 1925 Stone Mountain commemorative half dollar features General Robert E. Lee and General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson of the Confederate Army. Each is shown on horseback: Lee is the forward of the two figures and is captured in a side profile; Jackson is depicted in the rear turned to face Lee (i.e., forward).

1925 Stone Mountain Memorial Half Dollar


Each General is presented riding his favorite horse - Lee riding Traveler and Jackson upon Little Sorrel.

Here's an image of General Lee on Traveler:


(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/ 1861-65. Public Domain.)

Here's an image of Little Sorrel, taken after the Civil War and after he was donated to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI).

(Image Credit: VMI Archives Digital Collection, https://vmi.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/ 1890. Public Domain.

And now you know!