1861-O 50C XF45 Certification #80655549, PCGS #6303

W-7, WB-101, R-2 (501-1,250 pieces extant, common). CAC Green Sticker. Comments from GRFC: Louisiana Administration Strike, W-7 Die Pairing, Choice Original Surfaces, Residual Luster, CAC Approval, 1861-O Bonanza Collection. A choice original Civil War half struck during the 1861 February-March timeframe while the New Orleans mint was under the State of Louisiana administrative control. Attributing Louisiana strikes can be challenging. The key to identifying the W-7 die pairing is looking at date punch and mintmark placement. If the piece is in a late die state, there will be several minor reverse die cracks. This W-7 offering from the 1861-O Bonanza Collection is really sweet and worthy of special consideration. Grading is conservative as I would be EF45+ at a minimum and AU50 would not bother me either. Residual steely luster is evident on both sides. Some mint frost is seen in the protected die areas and within the reverse denomination. Strike is typical with unabraded surfaces. Gray patina is fairly thick but has intermixed golden shades. The GFRC images really don't do this piece justice as in hand appearance is much better. Housed in PCGS Gen 6.0 holder with CAC approval.

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."