Still playing with my new microscope. I bought this coin at an estate auction, thought it looked neat. After studying it, it looks like it have a die crack on the edge of the six. I've seen some stuff online that suggests this could be a CSA variety? The other thing about this coin is the oily sheen on it - someone much smarter than me said its an altered surface and was colored or otherwise treated. I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas from my pictures. If it is a CSA die crack is it possibly a fake? thanks
I've seen many 1861 O Half Dollars in my search for Civil War coins and money. Even if I was absolutely sure it was the CSA variety I would send it to NGC or PCGS for two reasons. One to have a professional verify it and two because the value would really increase. You will see many on EBay but very few with the CSA designation by a TPG. As to being treated with a chemical again I recommend a TPG look it over. That's just my take on this and I'm sure some others can be helpful. Either way I wish you good luck with it.
Sharp coin. I took the liberty of changing your images to full size. Hope you don't mind. I'd be interested to know how they distinguish the 1861-O varieties by which minting authority (USA, LA, CSA) struck them. Here is one I picked up this year. Not nearly so high grade as yours, but I like it for a nice wholesome circ example.
Lordmarcovan, thank you for resizing the photos - can you tell me how I can do that when I load the image? In terms of the CSA, I found this from PCGS - not sure if it answers your question- https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1861-o-50c-w-13-csa-issue-bisected-date/572147 The way they wrote it, I'm assuming something with a valid bisected date was a CSA issue.
Thank you for that link. I'm not sure if I previously thought to check CoinFacts or not. As to sizing your images, there is an option you can select when you're making your post, right after you upload the images. Look for it. Maybe try to post an image in your next reply. If you don't select full size, it defaults to thumbnail. (I'd give you a screenshot, but that's challenging on my phone.)
Here's the best I can do on trying to photo the olive. I don't see a spear but is my resolution too poor?
The CSA Obverse has a die crack from the rim right of Star 7 to Liberty’s nose. Bisected date a second CSA variety?
Here is an interesting summary that indicates 3 CSA varieties - https://www.pcgs.com/news/new-orleans-mint-southern-coinage , not sure about relative scarcity
Interesting. I do not recall ever handling a piece with the die crack through the date like that. If PCGS will recognize it as a CSA strike, then I recommend that you get it certified as such.
There are seven die combinations that were used by the Confederacy (six with Union dies one with the Confederate reverse) W-9 thru W-15. There were two marriages struck by the Union W-1 & 2, and 6 struck by the State of Louisiana W-3 thru W-8. The bisected date is obv number 6 and was used on varieties W-13 & 14. I don't know if I can post this here but this is the die pairing chart for the 1861-O halves. From the reverse image that Stewey99 posted it does appear to be the speared olive rev which makes it W-14.
Go to the Newman Numismatic Portal, under Periodicals search for The Gobrecht Journal. Year 2005, then issue 94, then for year 2006 issue 97. Isue 94 identifies the varieties and assigns them to the different issuing authorities, issue 97 goes into more detail about how the the assignments were made and some verification. For more information on verities of seated half dollars you need the books by Bill Bugert. So far there are five volumes published Volume 1 on all of the San Francisco issues, Volume II on the Carson City issues, Volumes III and IV on the New Orleans issues, and Volume V on the first half of the Philadelphia issues (Volume 6 is yet to com). Bill has very generously but volumes I though IV online for free download. They can be found here http://www.lsccweb.org/BillBugertBooks/BillBugertBooks.php Yes I know it is a link, and not even a secure one, but it goes through the Liberty Seated Collectors Club website and I have not had any problems with it.
Thank you to everyone for the information. I'm sending it in to PCGS and whenever it comes back I'll post what they say.
When you send it be sure to identify it on the invoice as Bisected Date W-14 CSA issue. They might even put it on the label. You might have to pay for variety confirmation. if you don't it may just come back as a generic 1861-O.