Diagnostic Controls & Presets Gutzon Borglum Sculpture & State Counterstamps
Diagnostic Forensic Readings
Forensic Attribution Diagnostic
Real-time metallurgical and die variety cross-examination verified against certified populations.
Technical Breakdown: Physics, Metallurgy & Die Diagnostics
Reverse: Eagle perched on mountain crag ('Eagle of the South')
Authorized by the Act of March 17, 1924 to fund the massive bas-relief carving on Stone Mountain, Georgia. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum later abandoned the project to carve Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.
Auction Pricing: Sold at state rallies for $10 to $1,000 each in 1925
To accelerate fundraising, state governors received allotments of coins and impressed official two-letter state abbreviations and sequential numbers into the fields before auctioning them to wealthy patrons.
Melted: 1,000,000 unsold coins | Net Mintage: 1,314,709
Struck in standard 90% silver and 10% copper (12.50 g, 30.6 mm). While standard uncirculated examples are readily available, genuine state counterstamps command thousands of dollars from specialized collectors.
Documented Benchmark Auction Records
Ex-Simpson Collection. Official Georgia state counterstamp with sharp rectangular indent; booming satin luster and original mint bloom.
Tied for finest certified regular strike; immaculate fields with radiant cartwheel flash and razor-sharp eagle claws on the reverse crag.
Rare North Carolina state counterstamp; pristine surfaces with faint champagne-russet toning across Lee's horse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the 1925 Stone Mountain Memorial Half Dollar issued?
The coin was authorized by Congress in 1924 to generate funds for carving a colossal monument on the granite face of Stone Mountain near Atlanta, Georgia. The obverse depicts Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson on horseback, while the reverse depicts an eagle perched on a mountain crag with the dedication: 'MEMORIAL TO THE VALOR OF THE SOLDIER OF THE SOUTH'.
Who was the sculptor of the Stone Mountain Half Dollar?
The coin was sculpted by John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum, one of America's most famous monument sculptors. Borglum began carving the mountain in 1923, but following a bitter dispute with the Stone Mountain Memorial Association in 1925, he was dismissed and his carving was removed. Borglum subsequently traveled to South Dakota and created Mount Rushmore.
What are the rare state counterstamps on Stone Mountain half dollars?
To boost fundraising in 1925, the Stone Mountain Association distributed coins to various southern states. State committees hand-punched official two-letter state abbreviations (such as 'GA' for Georgia, 'NC' for North Carolina, 'TX' for Texas, 'FL' for Florida) and serial numbers into the fields of the coins before auctioning them to civic leaders.
How many Stone Mountain half dollars were minted and melted?
A total of 2,314,709 pieces were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1925. However, sales lagged, and exactly 1,000,000 unsold coins were returned to the Mint and melted in the 1930s, leaving a net circulating mintage of 1,314,709 coins.
How can you detect a fake state counterstamp?
Because genuine state-counterstamped coins are worth $3,000 to $10,000 while normal Stone Mountain halves are worth $100, counterfeiters use modern steel punches to stamp fake state letters and numbers into common coins. Authentic stamps have specific historical punch fonts, consistent punch depth, and exhibit characteristic metal displacement along the edges.
What is the weight, diameter, and silver composition of the coin?
The Stone Mountain Half Dollar weighs exactly 12.50 grams (192.9 grains), has a diameter of 30.6 millimeters, a reeded edge, and is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper (0.36169 troy ounces of pure silver).
What is the significance of the 35 stars on the reverse?
On the reverse, surrounding the perched eagle and the dedication inscription, are 35 small stars representing the 35 states in the Union at the close of the American Civil War in 1865.