1925 Stone Mountain Half Dollar
Several classic silver commemorative coins have Civil War themes. The 1922 Grant half dollar was struck for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Union General Ulysses S. Grant, who later served as the 18th president of the United States. The 1936 Gettysburg half dollar depicts a veteran from each side in uniform. And the 1925 Stone Mountain half dollar was issued to raise money for the Confederate memorial carving near Atlanta, Georgia. However, less than a third of the maximum mintage of 5 million coins ended up being issued, and the memorial wasn’t finished until 1970.
Today, the Stone Mountain half dollar is one of the most affordable classic commemoratives, with low mint-state examples selling for around $100. Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) recently received a purported example of this coin, which was quickly determined to be a counterfeit.
The coin’s problems begin with its edge. Because it was struck in a much cheaper alloy of copper and nickel instead of 90-percent silver, the coin is too thick. When a counterfeiter substitutes a less dense metal, they typically compromise on the coin’s thickness, since adjusting the weight or diameter would be more noticeable.
The fake’s surfaces are too grainy, with a matte appearance and an absence of luster. The strike is poor, and the high points display a telltale yellowish color and a roughness that was left over from the blank planchet. Additionally, the design displays a distinct lack of detail, especially evident on the eagle’s wing and the word MEMORIAL, which both fade into the field.
Another red flag is the group of odd die striations accompanied by a blob of metal above DOLLAR on the reverse. This is not something you would expect to see on a genuine coin.
NGC has certified more than 300,000 classic commemoratives, including more than 10,000 examples of the Stone Mountain half dollar. If you are uncertain whether a coin is genuine, remember that NGC backs its determinations of authenticity and grade with the NGC Guarantee.
A version of this article appears in the October 2024 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).