US Civil War, Seated Liberty Half Dollar Coin, New Orleans Mint 1861

Original period manufacture. A well worn silver Seated Liberty Half Dollar, minted by the New Orleans Mint in 1861. Louisiana seceded from the Union in late January 1861, with the US Mint staying in service for the state of Louisiana and later the CSA, until the city was captured by Union troops in April of 1862. Around 330,000 of these 1861 dated coins were successfully transferred to Federal authorities prior to the Confederate take over in 1861, however, an additional 1.2 million coins were minted under the control of the state of Louisiana, and later, an additional coinage of over 960,000 produced under the control of the Confederate Government. These CSA produced coins are noted with a noticeable die flaw on the obverse. A great old coin with a very interesting history.