Owner Comments:
Hiram Ulysses Grant did not really want to become a soldier, but his father pushed him into it for reasons that stemmed from the older man’s ego. When Congressman Thomas Hamer filled out Grant’s appointment to West Point, he erroneously filled out the application as “Ulysses Simpson Grant” and the name stuck. Henceforth he would be known as “U.S. Grant” which was sometimes converted to “United States Grant” and then “Uncle Sam Grant.” His friends called him “Sam.”
Grant was a mediocre student at West Point excelling only in mathematics and horsemanship. Despite his proven abilities with horses, Grant was assigned to the infantry and not the cavalry after graduation. He was eventually assigned to lonely outpost in California, far away from his new wife and family. There he drank, and his drinking would eventually cost him his first career in the Army.
As a civilian Grant failed at almost everything. He failed at farming and then scratched out a living delivering firewood door to door. Later he failed as a real estate property manager. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil War he was working as clerk under the supervision of a younger brother in his father’s leather goods store.
Grant enlisted in the Union Army and worked his way though the ranks solely on merit. He would lead the Union forces to victory over the legendary General Robert E. Lee. Lee would surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House in April of 1865. At that time Grant granted Lee a compassionate surrender in which he allowed the Confederate soldiers the right to take their horses so that they could use them for their spring planting. This act was later used by Grant’s supporters to support his “Let us have peace” theme that marked his 1868 presidential campaign. (See the medal above right)
After war Grant used his reputation as the Union’s primer military hero to win the White House. Grant’s presidency was marked a scandal and corruption. Although Grant was personally honest, he was easily taken in by the people around him who took advantage of his naiveté.
Following a triumphant trip around the world and a failed attempt to regain the White House Grant became the figurehead for a Wall Street investment firm. His partners ruined him financially and left him penniless.
About the time of his financial ruin Grant discovered that he had cancer. With the help of is friend, author Mark Twain, Grant obtained a literary contract to write his autobiography. Working against death Grant finished the book a few days before he died. His book was a critical and financial success. It would sell 300,000 copies during its first two years of publication and would earn $450,000 in royalties for his family.
The present coin is a very nice example of the Grand with star commemorative gold dollar. It has strong luster, no spots and minor marks that can only be seen with a strong glass, which is consistent with the MS-65 grade.