Commems Collection Classic: 1922 Grant Memorial - Cousin

Tonight I thought I'd follow-up my previous post on the 1922 Grant Memorial half-dollar (See: http://goccf.com/t/117419&SearchTerms=grant) with a post highlighting a contemporary "cousin" of the coin.

In addition to the silver half-dollar and gold dollar coins struck by the US Mint, collectors of the day also had the opportunity to purchase a medal commemorating the centenary of Ulysses S Grant's birth. The medal was available from the Grant Memorial Centenary Association, the same group that sponsored and sold the coins.

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While the 31 mm bronze medal features the same general designs as seen on the coins, there are clear differences. The medal features a strong, forward-facing view of Grant vs. the coin's side profile view on its obverse, and a house less overtaken by maple trees on its reverse. In my view, the overall design of the medal is very strong and a worthy counterpart to that of the half-dollar/gold dollar prepared by Laura Gardin Fraser; I have not yet been able to ascertain the artist responsible for the medal.

The medal was struck by Whitehead & Hoag, an advertising company launched in 1892 in Newark, NJ well known for its celluloid covered pin-back advertising buttons but that is best-known to numismatists for the hundreds of commemorative medals it produced during the first half of the 20th century. The medal was sold by the Association for $0.25 and was advertised alongside its silver and gold commemorative coins; the medal was available with or without an attached ring.

Mintage figures for the medal are unknown, but the medal appears for sale far less frequently than either variety of the commemorative coins.

Enjoy!


1922 Grant Commemorative Medal - Obverse




1922 Grant Commemorative Medal - Reverse




1922 Grant Commemorative Half-Dollar Medal ��" Obverse




1922 Grant Commemorative Half-Dollar - Obverse