Confederate Coins

As the Civil War continued, the cost of the war loomed large. Any precious metals available in the South often made their way to Europe to procure war goods. But the CSA did manage to mint a few coins. In 1861, Mr. Robert Lovett Jr. of Philadelphia was commissioned to design, engrave, and make a one cent piece for the Confederacy. He used the Liberty Head for the obverse. Using nickel, he made a few samples, of which only 12 are currently known to exist. Fearing prosecution for aiding the enemy, he stopped his work, and hid the coins and dies in his cellar. The original dies were purchased later and used to make restrikes.

Unknown until 1879, the Confederacy did strike a half dollar at the New Orleans Mint. Only 504 coins are known to have been made; 500 of those were sold, the reverses smoothed down and restruck with the Confederate die. Those are known as restrikes. Four originals, minted on a hand press, were used as test specimens and distributed to government officials for approval.