Here's one you don't see often, 1861 Confederate Half-Dollar.

keets · September 18, 2003 1:10PM

I happened to see this one during an eBay search and thought it was interesting, wondered if any members had ever seen or owned one. Also, the insert notes it as a restrike and I wondered if anyone had some information about the originals and the restrikes.

Cool coin!!!

Al H.

MadMarty · September 18, 2003 1:12PM

Way cool!, wonder what it will end up at?

maddogale · September 18, 2003 1:12PM

Al, did you read the article in last week's CW on the one that is coming up for auction from the Ford Collection? It had some info on the restrikes. I think....have slept since then...

maddogale · September 18, 2003 1:15PM

Try this site......Johnny Reb restrikes

keets · September 18, 2003 1:41PM

hey Neil

thanks for the link. i wonder why they would go to all the trouble to make the dies and procure some planchets to strike four coins and stop.

al h.

lordmarcovan · September 18, 2003 3:06PM

Damn, that's cool. First time I've ever seen a Scott Restrike. There are a ton of modern fantasy restrikes, but the Scott restrikes are the ones with some numismatic value, as only 500 were made, using the original Confederate reverse dies.

That's the closest most folks will ever come to owning a Confederate coin, as there are only four of the original halves known, and 12 original 1-cent pieces (with 84 numismatically valuable restrikes in copper, gold, and silver).

lordmarcovan · September 18, 2003 3:11PM

<< <i>i wonder why they would go to all the trouble to make the dies and procure some planchets to strike four coins and stop. >>

1) They didn't have the bullion to strike coins, beyond the first few patterns.

2) In the case of the cents, Robert Lovett, Jr, the engraver and die-sinker, was in Philadelphia (in the heart of Yankeeland, in other words). He decided that making coins for the enemy might get him in a little hot water, so he hid the dies in his cellar.

abuell · September 18, 2003 4:09PM

Just show up at the JJF auction in New York on October 14 and buy a real one!

Gemini · September 18, 2003 7:46PM

The Ford Confederate half is said to have been owned by Jefferson Davis himself.
Ques: How do they know for sure?
Ans: his fingerprints are all over it.

BillJones · September 19, 2003 12:01AM

The price of these restrikes and even the Scott token have gone through the roof in recent years. A decent restrike can sell for $5 or $6 thousand or more. The token sells for a couple thousand less.

Overall all Scott made 500 of these pieces from 1861-O half dollars. The one that is offered here is really messed up on the reverse (seated side, the Rebs called the shield side the obverse). As such I'd say $1,500 might be its limit. It's hard to say how much a collector, who can't afford a nice one, will pay for a damaged one.

lordmarcovan · September 19, 2003 12:25AM

I thought it was '61-O halves. There is supposedly even a diagnostic die break to use with regular 1861-O halves, that'll tell you if the coin was struck during the authority US Government, the State of Louisiana, or the Confederacy. 1861 was a watershed year at the New Orleans mint.