I've tried searching all over the forums for info on this coin I have... It's a gold, undated CSA coin or replica, I dont know. One side has the seal and half dol at the bottom. The other side has a horseman and at the bottom where the date should be it says "DEO VINDICE" Any idea what in the world this is? Thanx in advance PS- Pics coming soon, trying to find the usb cable for my cam.
http://www.civilwarhome.com/confederateseal.htm this is the front side... I guess its a scaled down version for the coin
While certainly not very many exist, the Confederate States of America was responsible for two coins: the cent made by Robert Lovett, Jr., a Philadelphia die cutter, and the half dollar struck in the New Orleans Mint. OP - gold or just gold colored? High quality proof like, or somewhat crude, and likely cast? This is definitely not any official issue coin, but as indicated, likely a medal or token. A very few of those hold considerable value, but most are more along the line of a novelty/souvenier.
Cwtokenman,I've heard the story that the 1861O U.S. 'Seated Liberty' $1/2 is technically a Confederate States issue.Is this correct? Aidan.
entaius - If what you have looks like the seal you posted a link to - it is not a coin. It is a copy of the CSA seal - that's all.
The coin was minted while the CSA was in control of the mint at New Orleans but the design was exactly the same as it was before.
To clarify that still further: Some of the 1861O half dollars were minted while the state of Louisiana was still in the Union. Others were minted after it left the Union, but before the Confederacy was created. And still others were minted after it joined the Confederacy. So there were, if you will, three different issuing authorities. The United States. The state of Louisiana. And the Confederate States. There is no way to tell when under which authority a specific coin was minted as they're all the same.
Adian, apologies for not responding to your question sooner, but this is the first I have had time to return to the forum since that posting. Here is a bit of additional info, concerning the 2 types of Confederate Half Dollars. As a U.S. branch Mint, New Orleans produced 330,000 half dollars. Louisiana seceded from the Union on January 26, 1861. The Louisiana militia seized the Mint facility (along with almost $5 million in gold and silver) on Jan. 31, 1861. The Mint personnel were forced to strike silver half dollars and $20 gold coins using the existing U.S. coinage dies that were on hand. During the State of Louisiana's brief control of the Mint, another 1,240,000 half dollars were struck for the Louisiana government. Louisiana turned over the Mint to the Confederate central government on Feb. 28, 1861. An additional 962,633 half dollars were minted under CSA control. The coin dies that were used by the 3 different governments were never altered and the combined total of 2,532,633 half dollars are indistinguishable from one another. The second type of Confederate half dollar is distinguishable. In April 1861, Confederate Secretary of the Treasury, Christopher Memminger, issued orders that new designs for half-dollars should be submitted to him for approval. Among several sent, the one approved bore on the obverse of the coin a representation of the Goddess of Liberty, surrounded by thirteen stars, denoting the thirteen States from whence the Confederacy sprung, and on the lower rim the figures, 1861. On the reverse there is a shield with seven stars, representing the seceding States; above the shield is a liberty-cap, and entwined around it stalks of sugar cane and cotton, "Confederate State of America." The dies were engraved by A. H. M. Peterson. They were prepared for the coining press by Conrad Schmidt, foreman of the coining room, from which four pieces only were struck. The Mint was closed on April 30, 1861 by Sec. Memminger due to the difficulty of obtaining bullion. Of the 4 pieces minted, one was sent to the Confederate Government, presumably to President Jefferson Davis, one presented to Prof. Biddle, of the University of Louisiana, one sent to Dr. E. Ames of New Orleans, and one was kept by B.F. Taylor, Chief Coiner of the Confederate States Mint. The New Orleans Mint remained closed until coining began again in 1879. It is this second type that is widely imitated, and repros appear on ebay with relative great frequency.
Entaius, I think your coin has George Washington on a horse on the front, with Deo Vindice (God will Vindicate), and the CSA on the back. Unlike the image on your link, the date on the front is in small typeface below GW (not on the edge), your horse's tail is flatter than your link and the last A on America is even with the bottom of the horse tail. I can send you photos of two other similar coins. edited - no offers to buy, sell or trade permitted
