The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-03
CONFEDERATE MINT MADE
ONLY FOUR HALF DOLLARS
Rarest American Coin Is Fifty-Cent Piece Made
at New Orleans Early
in War.

that designs for half dollars should be
submitted to him for approval. From
the several designs sent he selected
the above and the dies Were prepared
by a. II. NJ Peterson. engrayer and die
stnker, and made ready for coming by
Conrad Schmidt, who was foreman OF
the coming room. The new die would
not fit tho regular coming press, so
four OF the half dollars were struok
on a hand or screw press.
About this time an order came from
Secretary Mernminger suspending OPP
erations on account Of the difficulty oil
obtaining bullion, and the mint was
closed on April 3d. 1861. 1t has been
supposed that the Confederates after
gaining possession of tho United
states Mint used up tho bullion on
hand In making coins from the Tegu-
lar government dies, but this cannot
be verified,
Disposition of Coins.
OF the four half dollars one was for
wsrded to the Confederate govern
ment. and is probably the piece said
to have bccn In the possession OF JEFF
terson Davis at ono time. The second
was presented to Prof. Riddle, of the
University of Louisiana; the third was
given TO Or. E Anes. of New Or
leans and tie fourth was retained by
Dr. Taylor. and is the only specimen
now known. Diligent inquiry from
1870 up to the present time has failed
to trace the three other specimens
and It is supposed that they no longer
exist.
when the United States authorities
regained possession of the New Or
| leans mint they took the diverse die
and threw aside the Confederate re-
worse die. This was picked UP by DIR
| TAYLOR and kept by him as a memento
! In April 1879 he sold the original cotr
| and die to Mr.. Mason, who IN tnrr
/ disposed of both to J. W. Scott, of this
| city.
Mr. Scott conceived the idea of max
| ing copies of the coin. He obtained
/ With much difficulty 500 United States
! half dollars of 1851. each bearing the
I mint letter of the New Orleans branch
!, mint. Removing the reverse design O.
| the Confederate coin. produced coli
/ that in design was an exact duplicatt
OF the original half dollar.
/ There are many differences to dis
| tinEuish these rcstrikes from the or
4 iginal. Every one of the restrikes ha
an imperfect appearances. They arr
usually innsbruck, and the loTce VI IN
blow necessary to give the reverse i'm
( preston has battered the design OF
the diverse more or less.
frequently the impression on the re
4 verse is much sunken, throwing up
= high ridge all around the border o
4 the coin. and tho reading is Away
imperfect, in most.instances being al
most obltterated; but the vital differ
i cncc lies in the weight. In removin
the reverse design loss of silver re
suited, so that the restrikes averas
only about 1876 grains in weight
The original coin is markedly differ
cnt from any of the restrikes and
in good state of preservation. TIL
design and edge and reeding are per
a feet, and the weight is trife owe
1 loa grains, which was the authorize
weight OF a United States half dol
lar OF 1851. All four Confederate hal
4 dollars were undoubtedly struck owe
bank plunchets made for coinin
3 United states 5o-oent pieces. The llal
dollar has not been offered for sal
since 1891 when Ii brought $500