The 100th anniversary of Ulysses S. Grant's birth was officially celebrated in three towns in Ohio in April 1922: Point Pleasant, Bethel and Georgetown. (Grant's birth anniversary was celebrated across the nation.) Grant was born in Point Pleasant in 1822 and grew up in Georgetown after moving there with his family in 1823. Grant lived in Georgetown until he left to attend the US Military Academy at West Point, New York. Grant's family moved to Bethel after he left for West Point; he visited family there in the years that followed but did not take up permanent residence; his wife - Julia - gave birth to US Grant Jr. in Bethel, during a stopover there while traveling from New York to her family home in St. Louis.
The legislation authorizing the Gold Dollar and Silver Half Dollar was signed into law on February 2, 1922; the coins were struck by the Mint in March 1922. The program presented makes no reference to the coins, so its unclear if they were available for direct sale at the various celebrations. The coins were advertised in
The Numismatist. the official publication of the American Numismatic Association (
ANA) beginning in March 1922, and newspaper notices in April 1922 (prior to the celebrations) indicated that the coins were being offered to local banks for their re-sale, so it appears very possible that the gold and silver coins were available in Ohio at the time of the celebrations for those interested. The lack of mention of the coins in the program could easily be explained by printing deadlines that preceded the confirmed availability of the coins.
Warren G. Harding Portrait from Program
US President Warren G. Harding spoke at the Point Pleasant celebration. He was very complimentary of Grant, stating:
"The military hero of the Republic; a commanding figure in the military history of the world; the surpassing exemplar of magnanimity of all times; the most striking example of the possibilities of American life; the confident and relentless commander in war and the modest and sympathetic petitioner for peace after victory!
"All of these may be said most befittingly of the great American whose hundredth birthday anniversary we are to commemorate; to whose undying fame we add fresh tribute of memory today. He looms majestic in the blend of them all - his fame is secure."The program shown here was the Association's official souvenir publication for the celebration and included US Grant history, Ohio's links to the US Presidency, the intended schedule of events for each town's celebration and dozens of advertisements from supporting businesses. The front and back covers were printed in color (inside and out), with black-and-white printing used for the interior content pages.
Grant Centenary Celebration Program - Front Cover
Grant Centenary Celebration Program - General Grant Flour Advertisement
Product promotion from beyond the grave!Grant Centenary Celebration Program - Point Pleasant, OH Program
Grant Centenary Celebration Program - Bethel, OH Program
Grant Centenary Celebration Program - Georgetown, OH Program
1922 US Grant Birth Centenary Half Dollar - w/Star Variety
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more about the Grant Centenary coins, see:
Commems Collection.
Discussions of the design details of the coins can be accessed here:
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1922 Grant Birth Centenary Design Discussions
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