The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-03

The only specimen of the Confcd-
crate half-dollar was recently eS-
hibited at the New York Numismatic
Club For twenty eight years 1t had
been In safe deposit vault In this
city, and the existence OF TINS soi.afy
coin OF tho Confederacy had been for
gotten by the older collectors. Many
OF the newer generation were nov
aware that It was extant.
Tho design on the diverse is exact
Iv like tina. OF the United States half
dollar of 1851. and as matter of tacs'
one of the regular diverse dies was
used in making the coin, The reverse
des.=r is distinctly original and en-
bIHmatic OF tSe Confederacy.
In tho centre OF the field is a shield
of seven bars and seven stars. Above
on a pole IL a, liberty cap. surround
ing the shield IS a wreath composed
OF a branch of the cotton plant and
q stalk OF sugar cane. Around the
border IS the inscription, Confederate
states of America. Half Dol"
The Confederate Cent.
II is a. curious fact that notwith-
standing the millions OF paper cur
-ency bearing the stamp of the Con
fedarate government which flooded the
South, It's entire metallic currency con
sisted OF four silver half dollars. Al
various times the existence of Con
fedsrate coin OF this denomination OF
or 10 cents has been reported, nu'
in ever instance investiga ton max
shown the piece to be only a privately
! made medal eulogistic of the South OF
OF ono of it's leaders.
The only coin that could pretend &c
be Confederate metallic money issu'
besides the half-dcilar was O. cen
piece that did not come to light unit
several years after the close of the
| war. The dies for this coin wn-e made
1 by a philadelphia cnGravcr in the
| early. part of the war. but never go
| .eyond the experimental stage, and
| only a few pieces were original,
| minted. The devices were embtemati'
| of the South, but there iH no ofHeia
i record showing that the Confederate
/ authorities intended TO issue such Y
4 cent or commissioned tho engrave
to prepare the dies, SO until more defi
mite information comes to light TIL
so-called Confederate cent Is included
/ among the private or unofficial issues
! That the Confederate govsrnmen
CONTEMPLATED metallic coin issue an
4 had advanced SO far as to strike
4 number of half-dollars did not com
4 to general notice until many year
I after the war. An article on rar
4 coins in aSPhlladelphia newspaper i
4 January, 1919 is supposed to have at
. tracted the attention of DR.. 3. f. TaS
flor, secretary of the Louisiana Stat
Board of Health. Upon reading the ar
ticlc he communicated with one @
phiadelphia's coin dealers. r. Masot
Jr.. saying that he had a Confederat
coin which had come into his posses
, sion when he was CHIEF coiner OF III
Confederate mint at New Orleans |
1851,
Il Dr., TAYLOR explained that the regu
lar United States branch mint at Me-
, Orleans had been turned over 10 tn
Confederate States of America by til
State of Louisiana in February, ! Sc
, the old officers being retained and cor
. nrmed by tho Confederate govern
Z ment, They were: William A. Elmor
superIntendent; A. j. Guirot, trcasui
er; M. r. Bonazanc, M. D., melter an
i reGner, and Howard AlillspauSh, al
sayer,
, Design Chosen
In April Mr.. Melnminsor, Secretar
. of the Confederate Treasury orders