Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-04-15
Confederate Hard Money.
-Four Coins Struck or by lie Confederate
GOrernu,ent Resmrecsed.
fPhiladelphia Record ]


1t has been believed and recorded as an
historical fact that the Southern Confederacy
had no metallic curreneS After q lapse of
eighteen years, evidence now presents itself
to show that four eoiEs were struck of st the
New Orleans Mint while that place was in the
possession of the Confederate Government.
This discovery has been brought about by
Record item, entitled <" A Craxe for Coins"
which gave the fancy prices placed upon raro
pieces.
a few days subsequent to the publication,
Mr.. Mason, the numismRtist, of 14S North
Tonth street, who was incidentally referred
to in the article, received q Communication
from b. F. Taylor, NJ. D., the Secretary aud
Treasurer of the Louisiana State Bosrd OF
Health, giving the information that he had .
Confederate coin in his possession. In reply,
Mr.. Mason wrote for a lead pencil rubbing
of the piece, at the same time expressing .
doubt as to the existence fany genuine coins
OF the Confederate States. The return mail
broaght rubbing OF the coin.
The diverse represents Liberty cap,
abOve the, American shield, the union of the
latter containing seven stars, representing
the seven Seeding States, the whola being
surrounded with a wreath of sugar cane aud
cotton in bloom aud the motto Confederate
States of America" The reverse has the
Goddess of Liberty, with the thirteen stars.
representing the States from which the Con>
federacy spraug, aud the date, "1S61."
The history of the coin may be briefly re-
capitulated from Mr.. Taylor's statement.-
When the New Orleans Mint was taken Jos-
session Of by the Confcderates in April. 1861.
the original dies of the United States were
cancelled in the presence of the officials con-
nected wiihsthe building. The Confederate
Cabinet, which was then sitting at Mont
gomery, issued orders for design for Con-
federats currency to Mr.. Taylor, who was
then Chief Coiner of the Mint. The above
design was submitted aud approved, and
orders were issued for the strfking of Of
specimen pieces. -Four half>dollars were ao-
cordingly coined, and these also, following
the design, were approved by the Cabinet.-
Then came an obstacle. That body found
that it had not control of sufficient bullion to
proceed with an issue of coins, aud, couse~
queutiy, the matter was deferred, and tenn
porary issue of paper money decided upon.
The subsequent rsut of the Confederates
threw the coinage project overheard.
FOf the four coins struck, one is in the pos
SESSION of one of the chiefs of the Confedsr.
{ aie Government, the secoEd was presented to
tieofessor Biddie, of the University of Louisi>
ana hethiEd 90 DIR. Ames. of New 0rlesus.
and the fourth was retained BY Chief Coiner
Taylor, by permission of the Cabinet.
1t is a noteworthy fact that all the indf-
viduals who were connected with the coinage,
including the Superintendent of the Mint,
Assayer, CoiDcr, EngrsveT, Die Sinker, down
to the man who held the chisel and used the
hammer, in the cancclling of the old and new
dies, are living at the present time. 10 Mr..
Mason, in whose hands the coin has been
placed, quite number Of bids have been
made By numismatic and historical societies
for the purchase Of this rare relic of the ro-
belliOr.
A siIver-plated ST electrOtype copy is TO be
sent to all societies interested in such matters,
but they will oil cry for the original.