Lot 2448
1860-D $5 Liberty. Medium D. PCGS graded AU-58. Well struck with nice even gold toning. Pop 13; 16 finer. Only 14,635 minted (PCGS # 8286) .
When Abraham Lincoln, an avowed defender of the union, was elected to the presidency in November 1860, it was just a matter of time before a struggle developed with the southern states. South Carolina was the first to defect in December that year. Others seceded, with Georgia following on January 19, 1861. As a property and installation of the United States, one possessing a wealth of bullion and machinery, the Georgia mint at Dahlonega was essentially indefensible within the State of Georgia. The coming of civil war in April of 1861 between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America made its surrender seemingly inevitable.
Initially, there was little change in the mint's routine. The new superintendent-treasurer, George Kellogg, had assumed office only months before in October of 1860, the year this half eagle was minted. He maintained a normal correspondence with Mint Director James R. Snowden, and both the receiving of bullion and the manufacture of coins continued at its usual pace, but business as usual could not last and the mint finally closed in the second quarter of 1861.
Estimated Value $5,500 - 6,500.
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| Realized $6,900 |
