An unusual question

[Km1000seth]

Im going to do some unusual inlay on the headstock of my mandolin, and Im having the hardest time in the world trying to find real confederate gold or silver. Does anybody have a great grandfather of distant uncle who has a 1 cent silver or copper. Or any other confederate coin for that matter. Im willing to give a good bit of money for one.

Thanx
Seth

[sunburst]

Here in VA., Civil War re-enactors take their re-enacting pretty seriously. There are vendor tables set up at re-enactments with coins to sell. If you plan to inlay a coin and buy from one of these vendors, it might not be a good idea to say what your intended purpose is http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Landgrass]

There seem to be a lot of web sites that specialize in rare coins. I saw some Confederate coins going for $10-$25. Bet you could find what your looking for. Type in "Confederate coins for sale" and you should get quite a few hits. Good luck....sounds like a unique idea.

[John Zimm]

I've got a Confederate $100 and a 30 cent note, but they would hardly work for inlay material. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

-John
Fellow Civil War Guy.

[Km1000seth]

What Im gonna do is inlay the coin with a forstner bit into the scroll on the headstock.
(please dont take my idea till my mandolin is done) i plan on doing one with the silver mercury dime I have, but I really want a confederate cent in the headstock of my first. I can get one thats a replica that look exactly like a real one, but I really want an original.

[Joe F]

Like nearly everything else, Confederate coins can be found on eBay. (http://search-desc.ebay.com/ws/search/SaleSearch?basicsearch=&from=R10&ht=1&satitle=confederate&sosortproperty=1&sotextsearched=2&sacategory=253&catref=C1)

[sunburst]

(please dont take my idea till my mandolin is done)
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Km1000seth]

exactly

[Km1000seth]

is that a doctored photo of a Hamlett?

[treidm]

Confederate currency is easily gotten, there was alot made. Confederate coins are another story.

If you or anyone you know got a confederate coin for say, under $20, it's a fake!

I am a numismatist, and will give the following information about CSA coins.

After secession, the CSA thought about making coins like those used in the Union, Only two coins were ever made and they were the Confederate half dollar and 1 cent. The CSA also designed a $5 and $20 Gold piece but none were ever minted.

C.S.A. 1 Cent Coin

In 1861, Robert Lovett of Philadelphia was hired by the CSA to design, engrave, and make the 1 cent piece. He used the Liberty Head for the obverse. Using nickel, he made a few samples of which only 12 are currently known to exist. Since he was from the North, he stopped his work and hid everything.

In 1874, a man by the name of Haseltine came into possesion of the dies and made 7 more coins in gold, 12 more coins in silver and 55 in copper. He did NOT make any more in nickel so they would not be confused with the originals. The dies were then defaced.

In 1957 another man aquired the dies and made coins in Silver, Goldine, and Bronze. The dies were then donated to the Smithsoian Institute where they reside today.

C.S.A. Half Dollar Coin

In early 1861, the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, authorized production of a Confederate Half Dollar. This was accomplished by taking ordinary (USA) Half Dollars with the Seated Liberty on the obverse, removing the reverse motif, and adding a shield with seven stars (only 7 states had joined by that time) and adding the words "CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA -- HALF DOLLAR --. Only four were ever made. The obverse shows a seated woman looking to her right with 13 stars around her and "1861" underneath.

In 1879, a man by the name of Scott came into possesion of the original reverse die. He then obtained 500 1861 USA half dollars and removed the reverses and stamped them with the Confederate die. He made 500 of these "restrikes". The restrike can be identified by an imperfection in the word AMERICA between the letters E and R. The obverse is also slightely flattened.

He then made 500 more coins but then used his own obverse which consisted only of words. The beginning words are: "4 ORIGINALS STRUCK BY ORDER OF C.S.A. IN NEW ORLEANS 1861 .......

C.S.A. 5 Dollar Gold Coin
C.S.A. 20 Dollar Gold Coin

In 1861, Edward Elmore sent a letter to the CSA Secretary of the Treasury, C. Memminger, showing the design of a new coin. The obverse has Liberty on it just like every other CSA Coin. Later, Judah Benjamin proposed that the CSA issue $5 and $20 gold coins. Neither are known to exist.

C.S.A. Fake Coins

Around 1955 for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the American Civil War. They come in 2 varieties, 1/10 which represents a dime or 1/10 of $1 and 1/100 which represents a penny or 1/100 of $1. The front of the coin is the same as the real CSA penny.

C.S.A. Coin Restrikes

The definition of a "Coin Restrike" is coin that has been made with the ORIGINAL DIES. Notice the word "Original". This is what gives the coin it's value. This is very important because if the dies are not original, then the coin is a copy or reproduction.

There are thousands of CSA coins being sold today using the word restrike and they are NOT. This is especially true at many of the on-line auctions. These coins have NO VALUE. But would be fine for your project. Well, some of the German fakes, because of the silver content, are sought after, and have about a $100 value in VF condition.

You really don't want to know what some of the rare CSA coins go for. At lower grades that could be affordable, most of the detail is gone. So buy a fake, but don't pay over $20.
Oh, there are many varieties of civil war tokens made from 1861-1864 privately, that might serve your need, they can be gotten in mint condition for about $20#
If you must have a real one, I can probably hook you up with someone, with a real one, let me know. #
# # # # # # #
# # # # # # # # #Regards, Reid


"Some of these facts used, are from a confederate coin site"

[treidm]

Think about these following coins, they are small in size and very unique in design.
1)Silver three cent piece (1851-1873)smallest US silver coin. $25-$100 in EF40 to MS60
2)Half Dimes (1794-1873) $25-$100 in EF40 to MS60 in proper years of Liberty seated type.
3)Dimes (1796-date) many types of older dimes can be had for $10-$100 in EF40 to MS60. seated liberty, liberty head(as in the photo), winged liberty head.
4)sm. Cents (1856-date) the indian heads that were made with copper-nickel (1859-1863 & some 1864's)Are called silver nickels because of the different look they have from bronze cents. The original flying eagle design is quite striking in looks, and can be gotten in an 1857 or 1858, and are quite reasonable.

[Km1000seth]

Thanx Reid,

Id heard that before, but didnt know it was true. I guess Im gonna use a fake, unless I can find a real restrike, Ive found one about two months ago, I dont know if it was done with an original die, but It was obviously a restrike. I think they wanted 50 for that one. Btw those first seven Cents were 35,000 each as for as one site I read said.

[sunburst]

is that a doctored photo of a Hamlett?
Busted!