TRIVIA: Gettysburg numismatically

About the only event remembered pertaining to the Battle of Gettysburg is the speech President Lincoln made at the Appamattox Court House, but the important significance was the Union's defeat of the Confederacy, thus ending the Civil War on July 3, 1863.

The Battle of Gettysburg was the worst for both sides, Union and Confederate:

total number of American casualties during the three day battle added up to 57,225 killed, wounded, captured or missing. If not honored or commemorated, the battle should be remembered.

In 1936 Congress authorized a silver 50 Cent Commemorative to honor the 75th Anniversary of the terrible event. 26,928 coins were struck. To awaken your memory here's a photo courtesy of Coin Page:

http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-1230.html



It has come to my attention that Liberia authorized a $5 commemorative in remembrance of the Battle of Gettysburg featuring the Union's General Meade and the Confederacy's General Lee on the obverse. Here's a photo courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...Battle of Gettysburg&query=Liberia gettysburg


As a bonus to you, for reading this post, I want to point out that the USA produced three other Civil War commemoratives in 1995 to raise funds to preserve some battllefields other than Gettysburg (photos and text courtesy of The U.S. Mint Historical Image Library):

http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/coinLibrary/#cw1552


Thought you'd want to know...

Clinker

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

While it was a major battle and a turning point, the war did not end on July 3, 1863. The war would rage on for another 21 months until Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox April 7, 1865.

If the war had ended in 1863, thousands of lives would have been saved. The Wilderness campaign, the fall of Petersburg and Richmond, Sherman's March to the sea, the burning of Atlanta would not have been necessary.

 

To Hudson James:

Glad to hear from you. Thanks for pointing out my error and correcting my ingnorance. Of course the Civil War didn't end until 1864. Don't know what came over me. Guess it was the discovery of the commemoratives...:desk:

Clinker

 

My 1936 Gettysburg half dollar is my favorite coin.

 

I got to visit Gettysburg for a few days in 2007. Got to see everything I wanted to see. Very cool.

Yeah, the war went on for a couple more years. I thought I read somewhere that the final battle of the war was fought in Texas or Louisiana? after a surrender treaty had already been agreed to. But the news hadn't made it out there yet.

 

During this tribulation, post colonies

There was little attemp to head south to ravaged war torn, trans Missippi home land untill late 1860ies early 1870ies. Post colonies sprang up in attemp to unite in large number and start a new life. Post colonies were located on large parcels of farm land to allow cultivation and protection. These colonies were heavily armed by men/women & children, similiar to old Army forts. p.s. there were no coins to circulate, the barter system prevailed. OT

 

It was the loss at Gettysburg coupled with the defeat at Vicksburg (July, 1863) that doomed the South......

Loss of life and casualties were devastating over a three day period but look at the loss of life on one day during battle at Antietam. 23,000 men killed or wounded in a single day.

A fact that many people do not know. More men were killed during the American Civil War than all other American wars combined.

 

Oh, forgot to add my thanks for posting another informative and educational thread Clinker.....

 

thanks Clinker

 

Mine too, I feel that the flags hanging on the reverse of the coin to be a very powerful image.

Anyone really interested in the war should pick up the three book series,
The Civil War: A narrative, By Shelby Foote

I would consider this one of the best series of books covering the war. Shelby (rest in peace) had a flare for story telling, he was considered one of the greatest source on the civil war, and he loved to tell stories in a very floral and vivid way. If anyone is familiar with the 10 part Ken Burns series about the civil war made for PBS, you may recognize him as one of the prominent experts interviewed during the film. If you have not seen this Ken Burns film I would certainly encourage all to see it if possible. It may just be one of the best documentary's every made.

Thanks Clinker:thumb:, for bringing attention to this coin.

 

I have an original two volume set of The Memoirs of Grant. I think I am about ready to offer it for sale, possibly at the Heritage upcoming auction. Fascinating period in American History.

 

IMHO the South lost on it's own actions at Gettysburg. The Union army was so stratigically placed that it was nothing short of suiside for Gen. R. E. Lee to order his troops as he did. Yes, hindsight is 20/20 , but such poor judgement by a previously brilliant leader is unimaginable.

 

Thank you Clinker for another interesting peek into numismatic history as it is woven through our history!

I agree... I am actively searching for the coin in a price I can afford. My recent return to coin collecting, for myself and my Grandson, has ignited my passion for our coins that commemorate and honor the service of our citizens in all conflicts.

Excellent series!

Again my thanks to Clinker for this thread!

I would like to offer to all of you my recommendation for a wonderful book about the Gettysburg battlefield. Hallowed Ground, A walk at Gettysburg, by Pulitzer prize winning author James M. McPherson. It is in the narrative; a short, less than 150 pages, that I hope you will enjoy as Mr. McPherson journeys across the battlefield providing insight into the well known and lesser known points of interest. I hope you enjoy the book.

 

I am actually looking for a 1936 Gettysburg Commem. I am looking at a grade in the MS-64 range, and likely slabbed. Is there anything I should be aware of?

Commems these days are not as available as they were 2 to 3 years ago, probably since they are in a trough pricewise.

 

Dimedude2,
I have been checking EBay.... But I am extremely wary of submitting a bid. Have seen slabbed TPG coins and non slabbed, some of which have impressive picture characteristics . . .I am a novice and don't know about pictures.
(I will not consider any offer where the seller indicates no return!)
Also, I would appreciate anyone's comments on the existence of a Franklin Mint "replica" of the coin. Does it exist? Can a novice tell the difference between the U S Mint issue and the Franklin Mint product?
Thanks in advance for all replies. :thumb:

 

Don't know of a franklin mint copy, but there has been a great increase of fake early commemmoratives on E-Bay. I got mine from a trusted dealer who found it at an out of town show. FUN show in Orlando, two years ago. He has my want list. Don't know where you live but there were many commems for sale at the Whitman show in Baltimore in November. Figure it will be the same in March. For the low mintages of these coins, the prices don't match. If someone wanted to put together a complete set of early Commems there are only 10008 possible out there. Mintage of the Hudson, Spanish Trail and Hawaiian. I believe the series will eventually command a lot of attention.

 

Saw a mention in this thread about the battle of Antietam. They also made a half dollar, commemmorating this battle in 1937 with Lee and McClellan on the obverse with the Burnside Bridge on the reverse. It's a beautiful coin. Mintage just over 18,000. Would be great for a coin collector or a Civil War buff. Looking at some of the ridiculous reasons for some of the early commemms it's great to have a coin, honoring such an important event in our history.

 

It ended in 1865. Many still debate what constitutes the end, Appomattox, May 5, or May 10. On May 10th Jackson declared it to be finished (Jefferson Davis was captured).

 

A sidebar to you folks who want to get a "feel" for what went on for those 4 days in July 1863...Read the book "Killers Angels" by Michael Sharra. It offers a marvelous perspective of what went on during that battle. Especially through the eyes of Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine Regiment.

 

Many people consider Grants memoirs to be one of the best, ranked up there with Caesars "the Gallic Wars". Shermans memoirs are also pretty good.