1861-O CSA 50C NGC Shipwreck Effect, SS Republic. Comes with box & certificate. 1861-O CSA 50C W-11A SS Republic NGC Shipwreck effect The 1861-O half dollar is a relatively common issue, with a total of 2,532,633 pieces produced for circulation. These were struck under an amazing number of three different governments, the United States of America, the State of Louisiana and the Confederate States of America. Most sources state that coins can not be identified as to have been struck under a specific government, but things have changed since the discovery of the S.S. Republic.

Because of the history of this specific issue, and the research done by Randy Wiley, who published a method for identifying 1861-O half dollars from specific governments, prices have risen steadily during the last few years. Especially coins that are offered such as here, with accompanying certificate and in a special NGC holder and box are especially in demand. With the sesquicentennial of the Civil War rapidly approaching, it appears that this is an excellent opportunity to obtain this scarce coin before prices rise even more.

While not winning any awards for beauty, it is the history that makes this coin particularly interesting. It was aboard the S.S. Republic, a shipwreck containing millions of dollars worth of gold and silver when it perished at sea on October 25, 1865. Among its holdings were a large number of freshly minted 1861-O half dollars, which were never paid out following the Civil War. They remained undiscovered until August 2003, when the wreckage was discovered, of the coast of Georgia and taken to the surface.

The present coin has been carefully preserved by NGC after being on the bottom of the sea for almost 140 years. The surfaces show AU+ quality, with luster visible on the white surfaces. The strike is strong for a coin struck at the New Orleans Mint, especially considering the fact that it was struck by the unskilled workers of the CSA. This is confirmed by the W-11a die marriage, which has been identified as being struck by the CSA. According to specialist Wiley, this die marriage was struck immediately after the extremely rare original Confederate half dollars had been struck. A rare opportunity to own an historic Civil War coin, always in demand and scarcely offered in this condition. The coin has not been given a numerical grade by NGC but given the designation shipwreck effect.