1
279
bid online at
(800) 978-COIN (2646)
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Session Four - Tuesday, June 3, 2014 6:00 PM
1830
1861-C. PCGS graded Genuine, Cleaning - AU Details
.
Lightly toned. Only 6,879 struck. Related to the numismatic
background of this rare issue, the salvo on Fort Sumter in the
harbor of Charleston, SC, on April 12-13, 1861, initiated the
Civil War, although secession started in December 1860, with
South Carolina having broken away from the Union. After Fort
Sumter, which was a Customs House, was abandoned, it was
all-out armed conflict. Panic ensued in the North since the
Union depended on the Customs Houses for its funding. Import
Tariffs collected there were a major component of the govern-
ment's annual income. The southern state and Confederate
command seized whatever federal buildings and machinery they
could. On April 20,1861, a Confederate flag was hoisted over
the Charlotte Mint. Prior to this, three deliveries of 1861-C half
eagles had taken place: 1,700 on February 28, 2,248 on March
31, and 2,044 just under the wire on April 18. No doubt many of
these were retained in Confederate hands and territory. In May
1861, a final 887 were delivered, these having been struck in
large part or perhaps entirely under Confederate authorization.
These would have been from a late state of the die. (
PCGS #
8289
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,500 - 1,600
R
ARE
1861-D $5 L
IBERTY
Enlargement
1831
1861-D PCGS graded Genuine AU Details
. Cleaning. Only 1,597 minted. A attractive coin. Lustrous. Some original mint frostiness still
adheres, remarkably so within the protected reverse field and is golden satiny; the rest of the surface is also largely brilliant. Need we remind
bidders that a weak impression was often left by the rebound of the (often dilapidated) dies that usually struck C and D mint gold coins in the
final three years that the Mints produced gold, 1859 to 1861; however, in the present instance, the opposite is true, the coin shows outstand-
ing detail and a clear, bold strike. Note the fine feather, neck plumage, and other detail on the reverse. Liberty’s hair is full, as is the coronet,
while most stars show at least some inner detail. Nice dentils surround the design on each side.
This is a romantic issue with historical significance. Between January 7 and April 8, 1861, the still-loyal (to the North, that is) Dahlonega Mint
delivered 1,597 Half Eagles for the federal government. On the latter date, rebel forces seized the facility in the name of the Confederacy.
Agents for the breakaway government then began striking a limited number of additional examples for the new authorities. There is no way
of knowing exactly how many '61-D Fives were prepared by the Confederacy, but Doug Winter (2003) offers an estimate of 1,000-2,000
pieces. Also eluding numismatists is a definitive way to distinguish the Union from the Confederate pieces. While this may be seen as unfortu-
nate, we believe that it is a fortunate omission from numismatic scholarship since any 1861-D Half Eagle has the possibility of having been
struck under Confederate authority. In addition to a popular issue, the 1861-D is also a rare one. Collectors should have no problem lining up
to bid. (
PCGS # 8290
)
Estimated Value ............................................................................................................................................................... $7,000 - 8,000
