#189-CIVIL WAR SALE: MODERN VERSION "SORT OF A RESTRIKE" OF CONFEDERATE HALF DOLLAR; PLEASE READ

This is an unusual and very attractive modern restrike of the Confederate half dollar, with a Confederate soldier on horseback and the text "The Confederate States of America" above an open wreath above the calvary soldier; the other side is a very strong strike of the Confederate shield or coat of arms.

The restrike is very lightweight and I'd say I'm pretty sure it is anodized aluminum much like the medal shown at the end of the row of four red halves--a blue aluminum Santa Monica Breakwater medal struck almost approximately 90 years ago! As an aside, and as someone who has always been interested in various commemorative issues, I am impressed with the outstanding quality of this piece.

This red half dollar is, however, a very uncommon facsimile Confederate half dollar and a dramatic strong prooflike strike with all features showing the characteristics of a proof strike.

There is however, an issue. I do not know who is pictured, but could venture a guess that it is Robert E. Lee riding his favorite horse, Traveller (Lee spelled the horse's name with two "l's"). And one "minor" issue with this as a facsimile of the half dollar....When the dies were made for the Confederate half dollar it showed a seated Lady Liberty not a soldier on horseback. I'm afraid I don't know the reason for the change in creating this restrike.

All of this said, it is a quite lovely so called half dollar, and I believe very scarce as an SCD. I'm sorry I don't have any other details. Jeff Shevlin, the premier expert on SCD's, has been working with Daniel Carr of the Moonlight Mint to produce restrikes of old commemorative pieces, often with one side different from the original. The high quality might well be the result of another collaboration between Shevlin and Carr.