Commems Collection Classic: Quick Bits 127 - A Washington-Lincoln-Grant Connection

I recently came across this lithograph from 1870 - it depicts conjoined portraits of Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington (back to front) with the inscription "DEFENDER. MARTYR. FATHER" above the portraits. Three famed American leaders with legacies of service to their country.

Grant, Lincoln and Washington Portrait Lithograph

(Image Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Public Domain.)

The lithograph immediately called to mind the same three American leaders as celebrated on US coins: 1918 Illinois Statehood Centennial Half Dollar with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on its obverse, 1922 US Grant Gold Dollar and Half Dollar featuring a portrait of Grant on their respective obverses and the 1932 George Washington Quarter Dollar with its portrait of the "Father of Our Country."

Ulysses S. Grant

Grant was born in 1822 and was working at his father's tannery in Galena, Illinois when the US Civil War began. His military career began as commander of an Illinois regiment. After multiple battlefield successes, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Grant as Commander of the Union Army in 1864 and he led the Union Army to victory, securing Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Virginia on April 9, 1865.

Grant went on to be elected as US President in 1868 and 1872. He died of throat cancer on July 23, 1885. His legacy of service to the United States was celebrated on the centennial of his birth with a Gold Dollar and Silver Half Dollar.

1922 US Grant Birth Centenary Half Dollar



Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky on February 12, 1809. He grew up in Indiana, moved to Illinois where he began his professional career, which included law and politics, and rose to leadership within Illinois' Republican Party.

Lincoln was elected US President in 1860, serving from March 4, 1861 until his assassination/death on April 14/15, 1865. Lincoln led the US during extremely dificult times, working tirelessly to keep the Union together throughout the Civil War. Unfortunately, though he lived to see the end of the War, he did not live to see/lead the nation's rebuilding.

When Illinois secured the issue of a US half dollar to help mark the Centennial of its Statehood in 1918, it selected a portrait of Lincoln for the obverse of its coin.

1918 Illinois Statehood Centennial featuring Abraham Lincoln



George Washington

One of the monikers (used respectfully) of George Washington is "The Father of His Country" - it is well-deserved.

Washington was born in Virginia on February 22, 1732. As a teenager, Washington was trained as a surveyor and became a professional in the field in 1749. Soon after, he began his military career in Virginia. To be balanced, his military career was a mixed bag of successes and failures, with his surrender of Fort Necessity in July 1754 a low point - it proved to be the opening salvo of the French and Indian War (1754-1763).

Washington did subsequently rise, however, to command the entirety of the Virginia Colony' military after the battlefield death of Colonel Joshua Fry at Wills Creek on May 31, 1754; Fry died from injuries suffered after a fall from his horse while leading his troops.

Washington is more-remembered for his steady leadership of Colonial forces against the Birth during the American Revolution. Following the War, Washington was elected as the first US President under the US Constitution; he served two terms - April 30, 1789 - March 4, 1797. Washington died at his Mount Vernon home on December 14, 1799.

The Bicentennial of Washington's birth in 1932 was marked with many celebrations and numismatic tributes. Among these was a new design for the US 25-cent coin - one featuring a left-facing portrait of Washington. (For more on this circulating commemorative coin, see: 1932 George Washington Quarter.

1932 George Washington Quarter Dollar


And so, three men connected by their efforts to defend their country - a nice little "trio."