The Washington herald., 1908-05-17
TRIED TO MAKE COIN
Confederate Government EX-
pected to Use the Mint.
HALF DOLLAR AND CENT CUT
Dies Submitted to Secretary Menin-
ger Resemble Genuine United
States Piece on One Side-Other
Side Identified IL with COnfedeFacy.
Penny Was Made of Nickel.

That the Confederate government con-
templated the issue Of metallic cur
rency is certain, though coins distinctive
ly associated with the Confederacy never
appeared in general circulation. Designs
for half dollar and cent were made,
dies cut. and a few coins OF each denom-
ination struck in various metals. These
coins now rank high with American col
leetOrs.
It was some time after the war-seven-
teen or eighteen years-that the first evi-
dence Of the existence of a Confederate
half dollar came to light In January.
1879, B. F. Taylor. N. D., secretary and
treasurer Of the Louisiana State board OF
health. wrote to f. Mason jT. a we'll
known Philadelphia numismatist. and in
formed him that he had a Confederate
coin IL his possession. A good deal Of
douot was az first felt about the coins
.genuineness. but investigation revealed
tho fact that at least four silver 5O-cent
piece were struck by the Confederate
authorities at the New Orleans mint in
1851
Planned TO Use Mint.
It seems that when the Confederates
seized the United States Mint at ,Sew Or
leans they conceived the idea o. an issue
Of Confederate coins. It is fairly certain,
however. that after the mint fell into
their hands. all available bullion was
used for regular United states half-dol-
lars, says a writer in the New York Sun.
The former officers OF the mint were re-
tained when the State OF Louisiana turned
the establishment over to the Confederate
States. and in April. 1861. Secretary Mem
minger, OF the Confederate treasury, or
dered that designs for a half-dOIlsr
should be submitted to him. Several de-
signs were offered for his approval, it Is
said. although the accepted one is
the only design on record.
This bore an diverse Identical with the
regular United States half-dOllar Of 1861,
the weH-knOwn seated figure OF the God
dess OF Liberty, surrounded by thirteen
stars, with the date 1851. The reverse de-
sign. on the contrary, was Of an entirely
original character.
In the center of the field was a shield
which bore seven stars. one for each Sc
ceding State Above the shield was a
liberty cap, while surrounding the central
design was a wreath composed Of sugar
cane and cotton, Around the border at
the top was the inscription. Confederate
States of America" and underneath was
the denomination, Half Dol"
These dies were cut by an engraver
named A II. NJ. Peterson, and the coins
were struck by Conrad Schmidt, foreman
Of the coming room. When the dies came
to the coiner they were found to be un-
Frarss
pieces were struck on the old-fashioned
screw press.
DR.. Taylor Chief COineF.
DR.. Taylor was the chief coiner at the
mint in 1861, and in his letters to Mr..
Mason he stated that one of the four
pieces was sent to the Confederate gov
ernment the second 10 Prof. Biddle, Of
the University Of Louisiana, the third to
DR.. E. Ames, Of New Orleans, while the
fourth was kept BY himself.
The four pieces were all that were
coined from the dies, for. owing to scare
| ity Of silver bullion, the mint was shut
down on April 30. 1851. Only one OF ghese
| original pieces can now be located. and
| this. when last offered for sale, brought
$50.
| Some time In the '7o's the reverse die
| fell into the possession of a firm of coin
dealers in New York, who are credited
with having restruck at least 500 regular
United States half dollars Of 1861 from
the Confederate reverse die after having
removed, the original United States re-
verse.
The restruck coins were similar to
those struck by the Confederate govern
ment, only the closest scrutiny develop
ing the difference. and this fact has had
tendency TO lessen the interest in the
genuine and original Confederate half
dollar. But even the restruck Confed'
crate half dollars command premium
Of from s. to S6 when well preserved.
Learned 5y Accident.
That the Confederate government had
planned the issue Of a cent piece came
to light accidentally. Some time between
1866 and 1870 nickel coin was submitted
to a coin dealer in Philadelphia for ex.
animation.
1t was OF about the same size as q
United States cent. aud showed a youth