I've briefly discussed before about how author Henry Stillwell Edwards brought the idea of a Stone Mountain Memorial commemorative coin to the Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial Association ("SMCMA") and how it led to the popular half dollar known to collectors today. (See:
1925 Stone Mountain Memorial - Randolph Speech UDC Convention Part II.)
This time out, I'd dig a bit deeper into the career of Mr. Edwards and his connection to the Stone Mountain Memorial Half Dollar.
Harry Stillwell Edwards, Circa 1890
(Image Credit: A Library of American Literature from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 11 1892. Public Domain.)Who was Harry Stillwell Edwards?Edwards was born in Macon, Georgia on April 23, 1855; he died in Macon on October 22, 1938 of pneumonia at the age of 83.
He was a lawyer by education, but did not practice; he is remembered more for his other career pursuits - namely, the writing of fiction (mostly with themes centered on life in the US South) and journalism. He was a commercially-popular and award-winning author of stories/novels/poems, and also owned the
Macon Telegraph newspaper where he served as editor and regular contributor; he authored a popular
Macon Telegraph series ("What Comes Down My Creek") until his death in 1938. (He was also a part owner and co-editor of the
Macon Evening News.)
Macon Evening NewsEdwards was an outgoing individual and counted multiple United States ("US") Presidents among his friends/acquaintances - (in term order) Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft and Calvin Coolidge. Interestingly, Jefferson Davis, the sole President of the Confederacy, was Edwards' godfather. Henry Ford was also within Edwards' circle of friends.
Edwards published dozens of stories, beginning in 1886. His first published piece, a short story titled "Elder Brown's Backslide," appeared in
Harper's Monthly in 1886. Long-form novels included
Sons and Fathers and
Marbeau Cousins. Many of his short stories were collected and published as collections in a single volumes (e.g.,
Two Runaways and Other Stories in 1889).
His most commercially-successful story began as a piece printed in the
Macon Evening News but was later published in book form. The piece was "Eneas Africanus" and was published in 1920. It was published in multiple versions (i.e., softcover, hard cover, etc.) and sold several million copies. (Having read Edwards' story of a poorly-educated, wandering slave trying to get back to Macon, Georgia and his "owner" following the US Civil War. I can say that the sensibilities of many in today's potential audience would likely be offended by it.)
Edwards' Role in Stone Mountain Half DollarEdwards is generally credited with developing the idea of a Stone Mountain Memorial half dollar, and for drafting a framework by which the SMCMA could promote and sell the coin to help raise funds for the Memorial's carving. He presented the concept to the SMCMA in mid-1924.
Edwards convinced the SMCMA that the coin program would be a success, generate needed funds and be well-received by the US Congress - he was correct on the latter point as the coin bill was easily passed in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Early in the coin effort, Edwards traveled to Washington, DC - with a coin committee that also included Gutzon Borglum - to present the coin's concept and plan to US President Calvin Coolidge - Coolidge became a supporter of the plan as a result of the meeting, which helped move things along.
1925 Stone Mountain Memorial Half Dollar
After the coin's release, Edwards stated:
"The coin nationalizes the Stone Mountain memorial as nothing else could. It evidences in a magnificent way the complete disappearance of sectional lines. I believe the coin will be in demand throughout the United States and in foreign lands. It would not surprise me if the entire issue should be taken in a few months." (This makes me think that Edwards was surprised by the coin's lagging sales.)
So, the next time you consider how the 1925 Stone Mountain Memorial Half Dollar came to be, make sure to include Harry Stillwell Edwards in your thoughts!
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more Stone Mountain half dollar stories, see:
Commems Collection
Posted 11/22/2025 9:26 pm
Uncirculated American Silver Eagles 
