Wrapping up my look at Government Officials on classic-era US commemorative coins,,,
This time around, I present coins that feature portraits of those who were featured on a coin that commemorates events unconnected to their days in public office (i.e., the coin was not issued to commemorate their time in public office).
State/Territory/Municipal OfficialsGeorge B. McClellanA portrait of Union General George B. McClellan is found on the 1937 Battle of Antietam 75th Anniversary half dollar; he is joined by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The Battle of Antietam / Sharpsburg (in the South) took place on September 17, 1862 - it was the bloodiest single day of the Civil War, with an estimate of approximately 23,000 soldiers either killed or wounded (~12,400 Union; ~10,300 Confederate). The two US Civil War generals were depicted on the coin in recognition of their opposing leadership roles in the deadly battle - a Union victory.
Before the Civil War was over, McClellan entered politics on the national stage. He ran as the Democratic candidate against Abraham Lincoln (running as the National Union party candidate) in the US Presidential election of 1864. As history records, Lincoln won the election receiving 2.22 million votes in the popular election (vs. McClellan's 1.81 million) and 22 of 25 eligible states in the electoral college.
McClellan left politics for a number of years, but returned to run for Governor of New Jersey (one of just three states he carried in the Presidential 1864 election) as a Democrat. He won the 1877 election, defeating William A. Newell, a Republican, and served from January 15, 1878 to January 18, 1881.
1937 Battle of Antietam 75th Anniversary Half Dollar
Meriwether LewisThe 1904-05 Lewis and Clark Exposition gold dollars feature portraits of the explorers (one on each of two distinct coins) and celebrate the 100th anniversary of their cross-country expedition through the US' newly-acquired Louisiana Territory.
Lewis would follow his years as frontier explorer by becoming the Governor of the Territory of Louisiana, serving from March 3, 1807 to October 11, 1809; he was appointed by President Thomas Jefferson. His term would have been longer, but he died in office. There were complaints over his handling of his duties while in office, and this led to him having to travel to Washington, DC to discuss them - he did not survive the trip. Some believe he was killed, others believe he committed suicide.
A left-facing portrait of Captain Meriwether Lewis is depicted on the obverse of the Lewis & Clark Exposition gold $1.00 (on left below); a left-facing portrait of Captain William Clark is found on the coin's reverse (on right below).
1904 Lewis and Clark Exposition Gold $1.00
Phineas Taylor BarnumThe inclusion here of the 1936 Bridgeport, CT Centennial Half Dollar featuring a portrait of
PT Barnum is likely surprising to some, but the man who was known around the world as an entertainer/show promoter was also a dedicated public servant prior to his days as a circus promoter. He served two terms in the Connecticut General Assembly, beginning in 1865, prior to serving a one-year term as Mayor of Bridgeport in 1875. Following his time as Mayor, Barnum won elected to the Connecticut General Assembly for two additional terms in 1877 and 1878.
He was a positive factor in several important initiatives during his time in the Assembly, including pushing for Connecticut's adoption of the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, (abolishing slavery), and securing protections for the public against railroad monopolies and the corruption they entailed. As Bridgeport Mayor, he worked to modernize and improve the city's water supply, better regulate its saloons and close its brothels. Barnum was also an active philanthropist, helping to found a hospital and museum in his hometown of Bridgeport.
So, while he was presented as more of a Bridgeport "favorite son" than a favored politician on the coin, "Government Official" was definitely part of his resume.
1936 Bridgeport, CT Centennial Half Dollar
Trivia Note: There is no documented evidence that Barnum ever said "There's a sucker born every minute." In fact, it is now believed that the phrase was uttered by a competitor in an attempt to disparage Barnum rather than Barnum speaking condescendingly about his customers.Moses CleavelandMoses Cleaveland was a Brigadier General from Connecticut. His being a shareholder in the Connecticut Land Company (which had purchase thousands of acres in the Western Reserve) led to him being responsible for the survey team that surveyed the Western Reserve/New Connecticut in 1796, including the site of what would become the City of Cleveland. His role as the founder of Cleveland (in 1832 the "a" was dropped from the city's name as a result of it needing to fit on a newspaper masthead) earned him his spot on the obverse of the 1936 Cleveland, OH Centennial / Great Lakes Exposition commemorative half dollar.
Few realize, however, that Cleaveland was also a lawyer and politician who served multiple terms in the Connecticut General Assembly between 1797 and 1806. He was also a delegate to the Connecticut Convention that debated and ratified the US Constitution in 1788,
1936 Cleveland, OH Centennial / Great Lakes Exposition commemorative Half Dollar
Daniel BooneFrontiersman Daniel Boone is honored on the 1921 Missouri Statehood Centennial half dollar and on the coins of the 1934-38 Daniel Boone Birth Bicentennial commemorative coin program. Years after the time frame being commemorated by these coins, Daniel Boone was elected to and served in three sessions of the Virginia General Assembly, in the 1780s and 1790s, representing counties that, while part of Virginia at the time, are today part of Kentucky and West Virginia.
History shows that he was not the most dedicated legislator - hunting and trapping always were his most loved activities and he was known to skip out on legislative sessions to pursue his primary interest - but his past accomplishments as a pioneer and general reputation supported his continued popularity and enabled him to be at least marginally productive while in office.
1921 Missouri Statehood Centennial Half Dollar, Plain Variety
1935, Small 1934 Daniel Boone Birth Bicentennial Half Dollar
And that's a brief look at five men who served in public office in the US at some point in their careers, but are celebrated for other achievements on a US commemorative coin. Did I leave any off my survey?
For Parts I and II of my "Government Officials" posts, check out:
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Government Officials - Part I - Presidents-
Government Officials - Part II - Federal Officials, Governors and SenatorsFor other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more on the history of the coins referred to here, see:
Commems Collection. 
Posted 07/19/2022 09:44 am
