We left off in this series with Part One of vintage gold commemoratives. We will continue with the remainder of the early classic gold commemoratives that are responsible for the beginning of a long line of coins coming from the United States. Continuing their run in the early 20th century, the small but mighty list of gold issues packs a punch.
McKinley Memorial (1916-1917)
Designed by Charles E. Barber and George T. Morgan, the McKinley gold dollars helped in paying for the memorial building at Niles, Ohio. The memorial building would commemorate the birthplace of President William McKinley. It features a profile facing left of the president on the obverse with the memorial building featured on the reverse.
The total number estimated of gold dollars dated 1916 is 15,000. The National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Association sold approximately 8,000 pieces to the public while approximately 7,000 were sold to Texas dealer B. Max Mehl at a reduced price. The rest were returned to the United States Mint and said to have been destroyed.
The following year in 1917, only 5,000 coins were issued of the McKinley gold dollar even though 10,000 were struck. The remainder were said to have been melted down.
1922 Grant Memorial (1922)
The 1922 Grant Memorial gold dollar, which was designed by Laura Gardin Fraser, was first issued with a star to the right of President Ulysses S. Grant’s profile. Over 4,200 gold dollars were issued with the star. However, it would later be removed and create the No Star variety. Over 67,000 coins were issued without the star.
The coins honor the 18th President of the United States’ 100th anniversary of his birth.
Sesquicentennial of American Independence (1926)
Celebrating the nation’s 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Mint issued two coins, one of which was a $2.50 gold piece. Also known as the quarter eagle, the obverse of the coin has a standing female figure representing Liberty as she holds a scroll symbolizing the Declaration of Independence in one hand and the Torch of Freedom in the other. The reverse depicts Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Designed by John R. Sinnock, the $2.50 gold piece has the largest mintage of all early gold vintage commemoratives. The anticipation of collector demand resulted in the issuing of 46,019 coins.
Source: NGC Coin; The Official 2025 Red Book; PCGS
