1860-O and 1861-O New Orleans Mint 3pc Seated Liberty Half Dollar Set NGC SE (B) AU Ex.SS Republic

The 1860-O and 1861-O Liberty Seated half dollars recovered from the shipwreck of the SS Republic are amazing artifacts of history—the history of the Civil War and the tragic shipwreck of the SS Republic. AU Capital Management is giving you the opportunity to purchase a set of three of them. These coins were the last two issues of Liberty Seated half dollars ever struck at the historic New Orleans mint.

The 1860-O piece is designated SHIPWRECK EFFECT. That is, according to NGC,

SHIPWRECK EFFECT — portions of the coin exhibit heavy to severe disturbance from saltwater exposure, with metal loss affecting the design. While accurate identification and attribution may be possible, it is no longer possible to draw conclusive determinations about the coin’s surface prior to saltwater exposure.

The two 1861-O coins are About Uncirculated. One was struck by the Confederacy and the other by the State of Louisiana. They are designated as Shipwreck Effect B (AU). That is, according to NGC,

SHIPWRECK EFFECT B — a coin showing evidence of light surface disturbance from immersion in saltwater, and may have some areas of moderate disturbance, not affecting central design elements. Coin possesses above-average eye appeal for shipwreck recovery coin.

The historic New Orleans Mint, where this fascinating set of coins was struck. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The 1861-O Liberty Seated half dollars from the New Orleans mint have the distinction of being one of only two issues in American numismatic history to be minted under the auspices of three governing authorities. The other issue is the $20 Liberty head double eagle of the same year and mint. The year 1860 saw working dies prepared at the Philadelphia mint and distributed to the branch mints. Half dollar dies arrived in New Orleans during December of that year.

Secession resolutions were passed December 1860, however the mint remained under Union jurisdiction through January 1861 and 330,000 coins were produced and delivered to the Union.  Since the Confederate States had a desperate need for gold and silver, officials of the rebel Confederacy (CSA) took over the mint in February 1861, and demanded loyalty from all mint employees. March of that year saw 1,240,000 O-mint half dollars struck under the authority of the State of Louisiana. Shortly afterwards, the CSA took full control of the mint and struck a total of 962,633 half dollars.