Post Your Coin Or Medal With Flora

In 1922, the US Mint struck two different commemorative coins in honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ulysses S. Grant, the famous General who led the Union Army to victory in the US Civil War and the beloved leader who went on to be a two-term US president. A silver half dollar and a gold $1.00 were struck. The two coins share the same obverse and reverse designs - created by Laura Gardin Fraser.

The flora side of the coin is its reverse. Depicted is Grant's birthplace house in Point Pleasant, OH. The house is presented under a thick canopy of trees (the scene appears to incorporate be a bit of artistic license, however, as contemporary images/descriptions present trees of a less robust nature near the house).

1922 Grant Birth Centenary Gold $1.00, Plain Variety


1922 Grant Birth Centenary Half Dollar, Star Variety (Star is above "GRANT" on Obverse)





You can find my previous posts about the Grant coins, here:

- 1922 Grant Birth Centenary Half Dollar, Plain Variety
- 1922 Grant Birth Centenary Half Dollar, with Star Variety
- 1922 Grant Memorial "Cousin"
- 1922 Grant Birth Centenary Coins - Coins with Beards Thread.
- 1922 Grant Birth Centenary Coins - Coins Depicting Places Thread.


Other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals can be found here: Read More: Commems Collection.

The 1923 Monroe Doctrine Centennial half dollar was struck to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of President James Monroe's address to Congress in which he stated that intervention in the Western Hemisphere by a European power would be considered a potentially hostile act against the United States and that the countries of South America were "not to be considered as subjects for future colonization" and that any such initiatives would be considered "dangerous to [US] peace and safety." In essence, European countries were warned to stay away if they had any colonial expansion aspirations.

The coin features one of the most unusual designs of the entire US classic commemorative coin series thanks to the highly-stylized map that is found on the coin's reverse. The designs are credited to Chester Beach, though they are not entirely original. Beach apparently modeled his design after the logo of the Pan-American Exposition that was held in Buffalo, NY in 1901; the Exposition's logo was designed by Ralph Beck. (See the link below for "Coins With Hands" for more.)

The coin's reverse presents stylized versions of North and South America - the primary land masses of the Western Hemisphere. To create the overall map, Beach went far beyond the relief map the coin's sponsor expected, and used two contorted female figures to mimic the general shape of North and South America. The figures themselves are not enrough to fill out the contintents, however, so Beach used items of flora to make his "maps" complete.

In her left hand, North America holds a multi-stemmed tree branch that somewhat forms the eastern portion of Canada; in her right hand, she holds a smaller branch as she reaches out to South America and, with her right arm, uses the branch to create an approximate rendering of Central America. The figure representing South America holds a full cornucopia in her right hand and arm; the cornucopia fills in the northern reaches of Brazil and the countries positioned along the continent's northeast coast - Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

1923 Monroe Doctrine Centennial Half Dollar





To learn more about the Monroe Doctrine half dollar, check out:

- 1923 Monroe Doctrine Centennial
- 1923 Monroe Docttine Centennial - Coins With Hands Thread.

For other posts about commemorative coins and medals, see: Read More: Commems Collection

The reverse of the 1928 Hawaiian (European) Discovery Sesquicentennial half dollar includes coconut trees that frame a welcoming local chieftain dressed in full regalia as he stands at the top of a hill; the coconut palms behind him are meant to be symbolic of romance. I believe the chieftain is King Kamehameha I vs. an unnamed chieftain as is typically described for the coin. (See the link below for a full discussion.).

To the left of the commemorative dates "1778-1928" at the coin's bottom rim (reverse) is seen a sprouting coconut, on its way to becoming a tree.

1928 Hawaiian European Discovery Sesquicentennial Half Dollar





You can learn more about the Hawaiian commemorative coin by checking out:

- 1928 Hawaiian Discovery Sesquicentennial
- 1928 Hawaiian Discovery Sesquicentennial - Revisited
- 1928 Hawaiian Discovery Sesquicentennial - Bank of Hawaii Auction
- The 1928 Hawaiian Chieftan


Other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals can be found here: Read More: Commems Collection.

Fantastic!

Thank you!

It's tough to miss the flora design element on the 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary half dollar - a large oak tree fills the coin's obverse.

The coin was issued to mark the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Colony of Connecticut, and the oak tree on its obverse is the famous "Charter Oak." Legend has it that the Charter Oak was the hiding place for the colony's Royal Charter when an attempt was made by King James II (through his local administrator Sir Edmund Andros) to revoke it. The tree stood for centuries (it is believed the tree dated to at least the 12th century) before it was knocked down during a strong storm in 1856.

Here's a link to the story of te Charter Oak on the Connecticut History web site: The Legend of the Charter Oak.

The coin's reverse features a standing eagle with 13 small stars (representing the original 13 colonies, of which Connecticut was one) just under "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" near the rim of the upper half of the coin.

The coin was designed by Henry Kreiss.

1935 Connecticut Tercentenary Half Dollar





For other posts about the Connecticut half dollar, see:

- 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary
- 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary - Ephemera
- 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary - Ephemera II
- 1935 Connecticut Tercentenary - Philatelic Tie-In

Other of my posts on commemorative coins and medals can be found here: Read More: Commems Collection.

Guernsey 50 pence (freesia):

Beautiful coin, commems!
2-rupiah coin, 1970, from Indonesia, with rice and cotton stalks:

Thanks!