The Civil War Dime: The
Civil War Dime was issued from 1861 to 1865. The design,
originally by Christian Gobrecht, was the Type 4 Legend
on Obverse Dime. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
was placed on the obverse around Liberty instead of the
stars. This change made more room for the enlarged wreath
on the reverse. In 1861 dies were modified to create a Type
2 obverse. Type 1 had five vertical lines at the top of
the shield. Type 2 had six lines. Both types are included
in the 1861 mintage; although, Type 1 is rare. The 1861-S
mintage was only Type 1. The subsequent years all used the
Type 2 obverse.
The largest Civil War Dime
mintage was 1,883,000 made in Philadelphia in 1861. The
lowest mintage was 10,000 in 1865. Since all Civil War Dime
coinage was struck in Philadelphia or San Francisco, none
of the Southern Branch Mints had any coins of this denomination,
and, consequently, the Confederacy struck no dime coins.
Civil War Dime Proof coins were minted for each of the five
Civil War years. They range from a high of 1,000 to a low
of 460.
The
Civil War Half Dollar: The Civil War Half Dollar
was issued from 1861 to 1865. Variety 1 of the Seated Liberty,
No Motto was resumed using the weight standard of 1853 to
prevent melting for bullion. The arrows and rays of the previous
designs were omitted to indicate the change in weight. The
next type of half dollar included the motto IN GOD WE TRUST
issued in 1866; however, there is a No Motto 1866 San Francisco
coin because the new dies did not arrive on time.
The largest Civil War Half
Dollar mintage was in 1861 with 2,887,400 coins minted at
Philadelphia. That same year, 2,532,633 half dollars were
minted at the New Orleans Mint. That mintage can be divided
into three groups. The first consists of 330,000 coins struck
for the Federal government. Following that 1,240,000 coin
were struck for the State of Louisiana after secession. After
Louisiana joined the Confederacy, 962,633 coins were struck.
Since all of them were struck as 1861-O coins, it is impossible
to tell one from another. However, there is an 1861-O half
dollar with a cracked obverse die. It is the same die that
was used to coin the Confederate Pattern Half Dollar, which
has a very distinctive reverse. The lowest mintage Civil War
Half Dollar was 379,100 made in 1864. Civil War Half Dollar
Proof coins were minted for each of the five Civil War years.
They range from a high of 1,000 to a low of 460.
