Tonight we look at another "companion" variety coin to one that I have already posted, the 1922 Grant Birth Centennial half-dollar "Plain" or "No Star." The coin is presented via an example in PCGS MS-66.
Here's a link to my post re: the Grant w/ Star variety:
http://goccf.com/t/114574The Grant half-dollar was struck to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ulysses S. Grant, graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, General in Chief of the Union Forces during the US Civil War and 18th President of the Unites States. Grant was born in 1822 in Point Pleasant, Ohio in a two-room cabin and was given the name Hiram Ulysses Grant; it is said he changed his name to Ulysses Simpson to prevent his monogram from being "HUG." He grew up in nearby Georgetown, Ohio.
Read More: Commems CollectionThe obverse of the coin features a right-facing portrait of Grant, while the reverse depicts not the cabin Grant was born in but rather the house he grew up in (at least symbolically). The coin is the work of
Laura Gardin Fraser, who also designed the Alabama Statehood Centennial, Fort Vancouver Centennial and Oregon Trail Memorial (reverse) half-dollars of the classic US commemorative series. In addition, her winning -- but passed over -- design for the 1932
Washington quarter was eventually used on the 1999 gold commemorative half eagle marking the 200th anniversary of George Washington's death. The designs appearing on the silver half-dollar were also used on the 1922 Grant Gold Dollar coins (same Star / No Star varieties).
The No Star variety of the Grant half-dollar is far more common than the Star variety. The Star variety has a mintage of 4,256 while over 67,400 of the No Star variety were struck. As would be expected, the Star variety carries a significant premium over the No Star variety across just about all grades -- the same-grade premium can easily be in the 10x range for quality coins.
The coin shown here is an electric, bright white coin with very flashy obverse and reverse luster; it's a great match to my Gem with Star variety.
Enjoy!
1992 Grant, No Star -- Obverse
1992 Grant, No Star -- Reverse
Posted 04/25/2012 11:31 am
