He ordered that new designs for half-dollars,
should be submitted. Among several sent, the one approved bore
on the obverse of the coin a representation of the Goddess of
seated Liberty, surrounded by thirteen stars, denoting the States
from whence the Confederacy sprung, and on the lower rim
beneath the figures, 1861. On the reverse there is a shield
with seven stars, representing the seceding States;
above the shield a liberty-cap, and entwined around it stalks of
sugar cane and cotton, "Confederate State of America."
d passage through the collar was assured. Problems with
planchets sticking to the die would be confined to the high relief
reverse die. Four coins were struck.
Taylor kept one and passed one on to the government
by his letter. We assume it went to Memminger. The other two pieces
were given to Riddle(Biddle), and Ames. We know that Riddle was a former
employee of the mint years. Dr. Taylor and Dr. Ames were both M.D.'s .
THESE COINS WERE DISTRIBUTED BY TAYLOR TO THOSE MENTIONED ABOVE.
Taylor kept one and passed one on to the government
by his letter. We assume it went to Memminger.
FROM NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
"Then in 1879 came another surprise. After an article appeared
in the Philadelphia Public Record, January 2, 1879, B.F. Taylor, M.D.,
of New Orleans, contacted E.L. Mason, Jr., Philadelphia coin dealer,
to say he had an original 1861 Confederate States of America half dollar.
He stated that four examples had been coined, that he had one,
that one of the officers of the Confederate government was given another,
another went to Professor Biddle of the University of Louisiana,
and one to Dr. Ames of New Orleans"
FROM JEFFERSON DAVIS ARTICLE
"Sir,I had a Confederate coin,
it was in my wife's trunk when it was rifled by the Federal Officers
sent on board the prison ship on which she was detained at Hampton Roads
before and after my confinement in Fortress Monroe. The coin,
some medals & other valuables were stolen at that time, whether the coin
be the same which has been offered to you as a duplicate I cannot say,
it is however not true as published that it is now in my possession.
Regretting that I cannot give you more exact information
the particular subject of your enquiry I am Respectfully,
Jefferson Davis"
MEMMENGER INFO
"he ordered that new designs for half-dollars,
should be submitted. Among several sent, the one approved bore
on the obverse of the coin a representation of the Goddess of
seated Liberty, surrounded by thirteen stars, denoting the States
from whence the Confederacy sprung, and on the lower rim
beneath the figures, 1861. On the reverse there is a shield
with seven stars, representing the seceding States;
mine has a M on obverse in addition to T, could this be
MEMMENGER's coin .
nowhere does it state davis name, he don't even mention
half dollar.in his answer to ans.
When Louisiana seceded immediately alignedwith five other states .
Five states ratified the Provisional Constitution Confederate
States of America.
March11, 1861 the final Constitution Confederate States America
was ratified by seven states, original six , then Texas .
National Archives reveal that the mint superintendent Elmore,
was not never under the control of Louisiana officials,
but rather the direction of C. G. Memminger;
Secretary of the Treasury for the Confederate States of America.
The mint was under Confederate control from the very beginning.
since mennenger ordered the coin, its logical, copy or die trail
would go to him, then your
theory is correct, you have riddle, i have taylor or mennenger,
this other lady i mentioned has possibly taylosr and ames is
missing, unless its under wraps and not shown.
MY COIN WITH M IN ADDITION TO T, ON OBVERSE SIDE ABOVE FIRST STAR,
PART OF COIN NOT STAMPED.