1861-O 50C XF45 Certification #44665309, PCGS #6303

Ron Guth

In a survey of the members of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club, published in the March 2008 issue of the Gobrecht Journal, the 1861-O Half Dollar was ranked ninth among the Ten Greatest New Orleans Seated Coins: "This issue had the highest mintage of the New Orleans mint coins under consideration for this listing but it was the last Seated coin struck at this branch mint before it was taken over by the Confederacy.  Examples of this issue are in demand as the only collectible coin struck by the CSA.  Many thousands exist and they can be obtained in all grades including mint state.  Randy Wiley described 14 collectible die marriages for this date in Issue #94 of the journal and this group of coins would make a nice set in itself for the Seated half dollar specialist.  Of particular interest would be the existence of some 1861-O proof coins that were listed by Randy Wiley in Issue #97 of the journal.  Most recently an example described as Brilliant Proof was sold for $17,250 in the Stack's auction of the Byers Collection in October 2006.  This issue received scattered support from the respondents, most likely a function of a member's interest in the Civil War and the coins struck during this period in US history."