How Accurate Is This?
I've been thinking about buying one of these for a long time. I know what the label says and I trust PCGS but I don't see any of these 'die cracks'. My eyes are old so give me a little help. Is this really an issue of the Confederate States and what is the value? Thanks very much for your help with this.
Best Answers
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BillJones Posts: 33,427 ✭✭✭✭✭
The diagnostic die crack for the 1861-O Confederate issued half dollar is not very big or exciting. On a fairly well worn piece like this one, I’m a little surprised that it is that visible. Here are some close-up photos to show you what it looks like.
I have only a limited ability to download pictures from the site now. I can’t really get the photos to my picture processing software to blow them up, so I can’t tell you, myself, if this is one of those coins. Our host probably has it right. I think that I can see the crack by Ms. Liberty's head.
"Coin Facts" says a VG-8 is worth $550. The two auction results are $450 in Feb. 2015 and $558 in January 2013.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?2 -
BillJones Posts: 33,427 ✭✭✭✭✭
The bare bones of the story are in “The Red Book.” The Confederate States of America began to form when South Carolina seceded from the Union in late December 1860. The other southern states started to secede after that.
Before Louisiana seceded, the New Orleans Mint 330,000 half dollars under the authority of the U.S. Government. After Louisiana seceded in late January 1861, it seized the New Orleans Mint. There were 1,240,000 half dollars struck after that. After Louisiana joined the Confederacy, the New Orleans Mint struck 962,633 more half dollars. There were also 17,741 $20 gold pieces struck during this overall period.
It is impossible to tell when most of the half dollars were struck. Given the mintages, most of them were made after secession. The only pieces that can be attributed to the Confederacy are these coins with the obverse die break. The reason for that was because that die was used to strike the four original Confederate Half Dollars. Therefore it must have been used to strike half dollars for the Confederacy after it took control of New Orleans Mint.
Here a Scott Restrike of the 1861 Confederate Half Dollar. This piece was made in the mid 1870s by the Scott Stamp Company. They acquired the Confederate die, planed down the reverses of 500, 1861-O half dollars and used the Confederate die to restrike the reverse of the piece. Technically the Confederate site is called “The Confederate Obverse.” The obverse design on this piece was flattened when it was restruck with the Confederate die.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?8
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@BillJones. I have not heard the history of this coin. Could you share?
Just a coin on EBay for sale.
Thanks Bill!