Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-03-10
COINS OF THE coNFEDERAcY.
One Genuine Half Dollar Known to Ex'

That the Confederate government
contemplated the issue of a metallic
currency is certain, though coins dis
tinctively associated with the Confed-
eracy never appeared in general cir
culation. Designs for a half dollar
and a cent were made, dies cut and a
few coins of each denomination struck
in various metals. These coins now
rank high in the esteem of American
collectors.
1t was some time after the war
seventeen or eighteen years-that the
first evidence of the existence of a
Confederate half dollar came to light.
In January, 1879, B. F. Taylor, NJ. D.,
secretary and treasurer of the Louis
lana state board of health, wrote to
E. Mason, Jr, a we'll known Philadel-
phia numismatist and informed him
that he had a Confederate coin in his
possession. A good deal of doubt was
at first felt about the coin genuine
ness, but investigation levealed the
fact that at least four silver fifty cent
pieces were struck by the Confederate
authorities at the New Orleans mint
in 1861.
1t seems that when the Confederates
seized the United States mint at New
Orleans they conceived the idea Of an
issue of Confederate coins. 1t is fairly
certain, however, that after the mint
fell into their hands all available bull
lion was used in coming 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, 1851
Secretary Memminger Of the Confed-
crate treasury, ordered that designs
for half dollar should be submitted
to him. Several designs 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
VI 1901, the we'll hllON III SCotlCu lis
of the Goddess of Liberty, surround
ed by thirteen stars, with the date
1861. The reverse design, on the con-
trary, was of an entirely original char
acter.
In the centre of the field was a
shield, which bore seven stars, one for
each seeding state. Above the shield
was a liberty cap, while surrounding
the central design was a 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. H. 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 unsuitable for the regular
press, so four pieces were struck on
the old fashioned screw press.
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 COnfeder-
ate government, the second to Prof.
Biddle, of the university of Louisiana,
the third to DR.. +. Ames of New Or
leans. while the fourth was kept by
himself.
The four pieces were all that were
coined from the dies. for owing to
scarcity of silver bullion the mint was
shut down on April 80, 1861. Only one
of these original pieces can now be
located. and this. when last offered
for sale, brought $50.
Some time in the 'TOs the reverse
die fell into 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 reverse.
The restruck coins were similar to
those struck by the Confederate gov
ernment. only the closest scrutiny
developing the difference, and this
fact had a tendency to lessen the in
terest in the genuine and original Con-
federate half dollar. But even the re-
struck Confederate half dollars COM
mand a premium of from 50 to 80
when well preserved.
That the Confederate government
had planned the issue of Il cent piece
came to light accdently. Some time
between 1865 and 1870 nickel coin
was submitted to coin dealer in
Philadelphia for examination.
1t was of about the same size as
United States cent and showed a