Need some 1861 O 50c education

[Ugakoivet]

What is the difference between a Confederate issue and a Louisiana issue? I know the mint was taken over by the confederates but wouldn't there be a US issue and a CSA issue? Not sure what Louisiana issue, educate me!

 

Lyn

[DaveG]

The New Orleans Mint was under the control of the US Government until Louisiana seceded at the end of January 1861; it was then under the control of the State of Louisiana for February and March. In April, Louisiana transferred control of the Mint to the Confederate Government.

 

So, even though the Mint was operated by the same officers and staff during this period, it acted under the authority of three governments.

 

If you click on the link in my signature line (below) and then go to the article on the New Orleans Mint, you can read more about it.

 

I do need to update the article - Randy Wiley has traced the emission sequence of the 1861-O half dollars, so you can get closer to determining under which government a particular half dollar was struck.

[No+4Me]

Maybe this will help: Link to Wiley-Bugert

[Conder101]

Not really, there has been a lot more uncovered since that book came out. At that time they only listed for vareties, Today, including the CSA half dollar, they list 15 different varieties produced at New Orleans in 1861. And they have determined which varieties were issued by which government (2 by the US, 6 by Louisiana, and 6 by the Confederacy, plus the CSA half dollar.)