1861 Half Dollar CSA Scott Restrike (1861 50C) PCGS MS63 CAC. Mint luster shines from within the devices of this excellent Confederate 1861 50C CSA Scott Restrike. The coin is white and grey with light toning in the field and darker peripheral toning on the obverse bottom and right side. There is also some darker toning around the top portion of the figure of Liberty. The reverse has toning in the fields and darker spots near the cap and to the right of the shield. There are a few obverse marks in the field and on Libertys arm; however, the coin is graded solely by the condition of the reverse because it is a restrike over a regular half dollar. The grade of MS63 is appropriate and confirmed by CAC. Also of note are the imperfections of the dentils over ER in AMERICA as a result of the die having been chipped. The Confederate reverse of this coin shows a shield consisting of seven stars and seven stripes. Atop the shield is a pole with a Phrygian cap on it. The shield is set in an open wreath of cotton and wheat tied in bow. The inscription CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination HALF DOL. surround the wreath. Dentils border both sides of the coin. The obverse is the seated half dollar designed by Christian Gobrecht. Liberty is seen seated, her body facing right and her head looking over her shoulder facing left. In her left had she holds a staff on which is topped by a Phrygian cap. Her right hand balances a Union Shield inscribed LIBERTY on a wavy diagonal banner. The date is below, and she is surrounded by thirteen stars.

In April 1861, Confederate Secretary of the Treasury C.G. Memminger requested that designs be submitted for half dollars. He approved the Union obverse, which ironically has a Federal shield, combined with the CSA coat of arms. A few proofs were made with a cracked Union die. When the Mint was retaken by the Union, Dr. B.F. Taylor, CSA Chief Coiner, kept one of the proofs and the reverse CSA die. In 1879 Taylor sold them to a dealer who resold them to J.W. Scott. Scott bought 500 1861 half dollars and grinded off the reverses. On these ground down coins, he overstruck the Confederate reverse.

With only 500 minted, all CSA Scott restrikes are rare. In its population report PCGS shows 19 in MS63 with 16 better. CAC shows 4 with this one the highest. The other three are in uncirculated grades.