Dream Coin: CSA 1861 O half dollar from the SS Republic

I just received a dream coin today! It is an 1861 O half dollar recovered from the SS Republic. What is special about it is that the obverse die that struck this coin was the same one that struck the 4 CSA reverse halves, meaning this coin was one of the handful officially struck by the Confederacy. It is also the same die state as those 4 halves, so it was struck very shortly before or after those were struck.

What makes it even more special is the condition. I searched for years for the “right” example, one that had good luster and minimal saltwater damage. The reverse is a flashy UNC, and the obverse has a nice even microporosity that hasn’t destroyed the luster nor looks like an ugly crusty mess. You probably won’t find a nicer example of this variety from the SS Republic.

 

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And we know the obverse die used for this coin was the same die used to strike the CSA half dollar how?

 

Gimme

 

new Orleans dies were taken and used by the confederacy

 

Die crack by Liberty’s nose

 

Where can I get one ? Is Santa still taking my Lists ?

 

Nice one. About the best looking recovered half I seen

 

Merry Xmas I guess .

 

Not a fan of the confederacy, but the coin is a beauty and the history is unique. An excellent addition to your collection. Congratulations.

 

Hard to believe it ever sat in salt water. It's a beauty!

 

I saw a Documentary on this Ship . They use robotics with Suction cups to recovery these coins ! That's how delicate they are with these coins . What do they use to conserve these Precious Coins with?

 

Amazing coin!!! I've been wanting to own one of those recovered SS Republic coins. You chose a very beautiful one.

 

Nice luster on the item . . .
Glad its preserved now

 

What do you all think this would grade ?

 

That is really something! Super - very interesting.

 

It would most likely be graded Uncirculated Details - Environmental Damage. Which is why most of the SS Republic simply say "Shipwreck Effect". The salt water corroded the surface of the silver.

 

Looks Great now ! I have a 2 reale from the El Cazador . I love it .

 

Impressive. It doesn't appear to have suffered the abrasive cleaning that these coins typically show.

Most SS Republic coins look like someone used 0000 steel wool on them.

 

Why did the obverse suffer underwater corrosion, but the reverse remain unharmed?

Very cool coin btw!

 

the reverse was pressed against another coin, which got hermetically sealed, preventing salt water from getting in. If you look at clumps of sea-salvaged coins, those pressed against each other have very little salt water damage because the rims act as a barrier and fuse with corrosion. That’s why a lot of the halves salvaged from the SS Republic have a good side and a bad side.