Counterfeit Detection: 1922 Grant Commemorative Half Dollar: Altered With Added Star

NGC - A forger added a star to this coin to make it appear to be something stellar.

The classic commemorative series, while full of some of the best-designed US coins of the 20th century, essentially was used simply to make money for various causes. Such was the case with the 1922 Grant Commemoratives.

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In 1921, the Ulysses S. Grant Centenary Association wanted to coordinate special observances and create monuments in recognition of Grant's impact on the country. To do this, they sought to strike commemorative gold dollars and silver half dollars. Eventually they received authorization to strike up to 10,000 gold dollars and 250,000 silver half dollars.


1922 Grant half dollar, with star, NGC MS 67

As had been the case with the Missouri and Alabama commemoratives struck in 1921, the sponsors of the bill decided that they would create a variety in order to increase sales. Thus, a small star was placed above the word GRANT in the right obverse field. While the distribution was even on the gold dollars, only 4,250 Grant Half Dollars were struck with star, compared to 67,350 non-star examples. This made the star varieties almost 16 times rarer. This very minor difference makes this coin much more valuable with the star, and therefore it is a target for forgers.


1922 Grant half dollar with added star

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