Confederate States of America (1861-1863)

About This Series

Representing one of the most historically charged and rarest categories in American numismatics, Confederate coinage encompasses coins and patterns produced by the secessionist government during the Civil War. The most famous piece is the 1861 Confederate half dollar — only four originals struck from a die prepared at the seized New Orleans Mint, pairing a Confederate shield reverse with a standard Seated Liberty obverse. The 1861 Confederate cent, with twelve original copper-nickel specimens known, is another legendary rarity featuring a Liberty Head obverse and Confederate inscription. Later restrikes by J.W. Scott and others in the 1870s-80s created a secondary market for collectors. The Confederacy's inability to establish a functioning mint system reflects the broader industrial limitations constraining the Southern war effort. Confederate coins are pursued by both numismatists and Civil War historians as tangible artifacts of a government that existed only four years but whose legacy continues to shape American historical consciousness.

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