Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-05-02
RARE HALF DOLLARS
Only Four OF Them Are Known
to Have Been Minted.
COINS or THE coNFEDERAcY

Three Of This Rare Quartet Have Dis-
appeared, and Only One IL Now
Known 10 Exist--confsdera Cents
Were AIso Planned, but Not Coined.
That the Confederate government con-
templated the Issue Of a metallic cur
reEcy Ii certain, though coins distinct
IL 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 denomination struck In various
metals. These coins now rank high
with American collectors
II was some time after the war
seventeen or eighteen years-that the
tlFst evidence Of the existence OF a
Confederate half dollar came to light
In January. 1870. n. r, Taylor, NJ, D.,
secretary and treasurer Of the I4ouisi-
ana state board OF health. wrote to II,
Mason, Jr., well known Philadelphia
numismatlst. and informed him that he
had q Confederate coin In his posses.
sion. A good deal OF doubt was at first
felt about the coins genuineness, but
investigation revealed the fact that at
least four silver Atty cent pieces were
struck by the Confederate authorities
at the New Orleans mint IN 1861,
II seems that when the ConfederateS
seized the United States mint at New
Orleans they conceived the Idea Of an
issue Of Confederate coins. II Is fairly
certain. however, that after the mint
tell into their hands all available bull
lion was used for regular United states
half dollars.
The former officers of the mint were
retained when the state Of Louisiana
turned the establishment over to the
Confederate states, and In April. 1891.
Secretary Memminger Of the Confed-
crate treasury ordered that designs for
q half dollar should be submitted to
him. Several designs were offered for
hla approval II IL said. although the
accepted one IL the only design ON rec.
ord.
This bore an diverse identical with
the regnlar United states half dollar Of
1851, tho well known seated figure of
the Goddess Of Liberty surrounded by
thirteen stars. with the date 1861. The
reverse design. on the contrary. was OF
an entirely original character.
In the center OF the field was II
ahield which bore seven stars. one for
each seeding state. Above the shield
was . Liberty cap. while surrounding
the central design was \ wreath com.
posed OF sugar cane and cotton.
Around the border at the top was the
inscription. Confederate States Of
America" and underneath was the de.
nomination. "Half dol"
These dies were cut by an engraver
named A. II. NJ. Peterson. aud the
coins were struck by Colonel Schmidt
foreman OF tho coming room. When
the dies came to the colner they were
found 70 be- unsuitable for the regular
press. 20 four pieces were struck on
the old fashioned screw press.
DIR. Taylor was the chief conner nj
the mint IN 1861. and In his letters Il
Mr. Mason he stated that one of tbs
four pieces was sent to the Confeder
ate government. the second to FRO
lessor Rlddle Of the University Of Lou
iaiana. the third 70 Or. u, Ames ei
New Orleans. while the fourth wa,
kept by himself.
The four pieces were all that wer'
coined from the dies. for owing to th'
scarcity of silver bullion the mint wat
shut down on April 90 1861. Only on'
OF these original pieces can now b
located. and this when last offered fol
sale brought ssT0
Some time In the seventies the ne
verse die fell into the possession OF !
arm Of coin dealers In New York. witt
are credited with having struck a
least 800 regular United States bal
dollars Of 1861 from the Confederate
reverse die after having removed tn
original United States reverse.
The restruek coins were similar q
those struck by the Confederate gov
eminent. only the closest scrutiny de
veloplng the difference. and this fac
has had q tendency TO lessen the In
terast Ia the genuine and original Con
feSiarats half dollar. But even tn
rss@uck Confederate half dollars com
mana s premium of from IS to 9
when well preserved.
That the Confederate government
haa planned the issue Of cent nAee'