1861 Civil War Coin Set: 1861 H10C NGC MS64, 1861 25C NGC XF45 CAC, 1861 G$1 NGC MS61 CAC, 1861 $2.50 Type 2 NGC AU58 CAC, 1861 $5 NGC AU58 CAC, 1861 $20 NGC AU55 CAC.

The Half-Dime
The half-dime is sliver-grey with tan and blue highlights. It is fully lustrous on both sides and well struck. Full details are seen on Libertys head, the wreath, and the dentils on both sides. The surfaces are clean with no significant distracting marks or abrasions, in keeping with the grade.

Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the half-dime depicts Liberty seated looking over her shoulder to the left. She balances the Union Shield inscribed LIBERTY with her right hand and holds a staff on which is placed a Phrygian cap in her left. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is interrupted by her head and the capped pole. The dated is below. The reverse has the cereal wreath enclosing the denomination, HALF DIME.

The Quarter
The quarter is toned with blue, yellow, gold, and tan highlights. The super clean fields show no distracting marks or abrasions. Despite the fact that the coin is circulated, all the details of the design are legible and clear. The grade of XF45 is confirmed by the CAC sticker, which also indicates that the coin is choice for the grade. The strike is full on Libertys head, the centers of the stars, the central part of the figure, and the eagle.

The seated Liberty motif is similar to the half-dime except that instead of the obverse legend, there is an arc of thirteen stars that are interrupted by Libertys head and the capped pole. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle facing left with wings pointed downward. In its talons are the olive branch, symbol of peace, and the arrows, symbol of preparedness. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc above, and the denomination, written as QUAR. DOL. is below. Dentils are at the periphery of both sides.

The Gold Dollar
Significant, bright mint luster gleams from the surfaces of the gold dollar. The coin is well stuck with full details seen on Libertys hair, the letters of LIBERTY, the ribbon knot, the 8 and 6 of the date, and the dentils on both sides. No wear is seen on the high points of the design, in keeping with the grade. The CAC sticker confirms the grade and also indicates that the coin is choice.

Designed by James B. Longacre, the design was modified in 1856 to bring up the design because the original was often illegible even in mint condition. The new portrait has shallower relief and is larger than its predecessor. The obverse depicts Liberty facing left in profile wearing a stylized Indian headdress. She is encircled by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The reverse shows an open wreath of corn, cotton, maple, and tobacco tied below with a bow. Within the wreath are the denomination, 1 DOLLAR, and the date. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides.

The Quarter Eagle
The quarter eagle is well struck at the peripheries. The dentils on both sides as well as the stars, legend, and denomination are fully detailed. Although lightly circulated, the coin shows sufficient separation in the lines of Libertys hair, the coronet, and the feathers on the wing tips and neck to warrant the grade. The grade of AU58 is confirmed by the CAC sticker, which also indicates that the coin is choice for the grade. Subdued mint luster is seen within the devices.

Designed by Christian Gobrecht, the quarter eagle shows Liberty facing left. Her hair is tied with beads and two curls flow down her neck. She wears a LIBERTY inscribed coronet or tiara and is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars with the date below. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with wings outstretched and pointing up. Its head is turned to the left, and in its talons it holds an olive branch, symbol of peace, and arrows, symbol of preparedness. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the eagle, interrupted by the wing tips, and the denomination, written as 2 D., is below. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides of the coin.

The Half Eagle
The half eagle is lustrous on both sides, especially on the fields. Even the high points of the coin show little wear. The grade of AU58 is confirmed by CAC, which also indicates that this is a premium quality coin. The strike is full and the coin has full details on the high points of Libertys hair, the centers of the stars, the eagles neck and its lower feathers. The dentils on both sides are also sharp and full.

In designing the half eagle, Christian Gobrecht used the same motifs that are found on other gold coins of the time. The goal was to standardize the coinage as a deterrent to counterfeiting. Although proportionally larger, the devices are similar to those used on the quarter eagle. Slight differences can be found, for example, the curl on Libertys neck is shorter on the half eagle than on the quarter eagle. Similarly, the shapes of the eagles beaks differ on both coins. Of course the denomination of the half eagle is FIVE D., which is an obvious and necessary difference.

The Double Eagle
The double eagle is the key coin in the set. Full details are seen on both sides of the piece. These include the centers of the stars, the lines of Libertys hair, the reverse motifs, and the dentils on both sides. Muted mint luster is seen in the protected areas within the devices. The grade of AU55 is confirmed by CAC, which indicates that this coin is of premium quality.
Designed by James B. Longacre, the double eagle was a relatively new denomination by the time the Civil War broke out. The coin shows a young Liberty in profile looking left and slightly upward. She wears a tiara that is inscribed LIBERTY, and her hair is tied in the back as two loose curls flow down her neck. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars, and the date is below. Dentils are near the edge on both sides of the coin. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with elaborate ribbons on both sides of the shield extending from the top corner down to the eagles tail feathers. The ribbons are inscribed, on the left E PLURIBUS and UNUM on the right. The ribbons were added to the design to symbolize the denomination since this was the first double eagle coin. There is an oval of thirteen stars above the eagles head and an arc of rays from wing tip to wing tip behind the upper half of the oval. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc above the eagle, and the denomination TWENTY D. is below.

The Set
The coins of the 1861 Civil War set are all graded and encapsulated by NGC. All but one are stickered by CAC. These third-party entities assure that the coins are authentic and properly graded. With the intensified interest in actual Civil War memorabilia, certainly premium quality coins of the era will increase in popularity and desirability.