Battle of Gettysburg half dollar facts for kids
| United States | |
| Years of minting | 1937 |
|---|---|
| Obverse | |
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| Designer | Frank Vittor |
| Reverse | |
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| Designer | Frank Vittor |
The Battle of Gettysburg half dollar is a special coin from the United States. It was designed by Frank Vittor. The coin was minted in 1937, but it shows the year 1936. This half dollar was created to remember the 75th anniversary of the important Battle of Gettysburg. That famous battle happened in 1863.
Contents
About This Special Coin
What the Coin Shows
The front side of the coin is called the obverse. It features two brave soldiers. One soldier represents the Union army. The other represents the Confederate army. They stand together, showing unity after the war.
Above the soldiers, you can see the Latin phrase E pluribus unum. This means "Out of Many, One." It was a very important motto for the United States for a long time. The letter "E" in "E pluribus unum" is also part of the word "Liberty" on the coin.
The back side of the coin is called the reverse. It also features designs by Frank Vittor.
The Battle of Gettysburg: A Quick Look
The Battle of Gettysburg was a very important event. It took place from July 1 to July 3, 1863. The fighting happened in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This battle was a major part of the American Civil War.
Why Gettysburg Was Important
The Battle of Gettysburg had the most casualties of the entire war. Many historians call it the turning point of the American Civil War. During this battle, the Union forces stopped the Confederate invasion of the North.
Key Figures and Outcomes
The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. George Meade. His army was called the Army of the Potomac. They successfully defended against attacks. The Confederate Army was led by Gen. Robert E. Lee. His army was known as the Army of Northern Virginia.
The battle lasted for three days. It resulted in a huge number of casualties. An estimated 23,000 to 28,000 Confederate soldiers were lost. About 23,049 Union soldiers were also lost. The Union victory here was a major step towards ending the war.
