New Orleans coinage 1857-June 1880

[RogerB]

This table is posted for general interest and background of the New Orleans Mint.

Pages from 18800712 NO coinage 1857-1879_Page_1.jpg (171.94 KiB) Viewed 1587 times

[messydesk]

Had to do a quick double-take realizing that's really only 7 years (6 if you count that 1861 and 1880 were reporting 1/2 calendar year of production).

What would the purpose of this statement have been? An assertion that they're a relevant mint again after reopening?

[RogerB]

It appears that director Burchard wanted data to confirm Civil War era coin production from the re-opened New Orleans Mint. Here is the text of the cover letter.

July 12, 1880

Hon. Horatio C. Burchard
Director of the Mint
Washington, DC

Sir,
Acknowledging your letter of the 6th inst. asking for a Statement of the Coinage executed by
Calendar Years since 1857 inclusive. I have the honor to enclose the same and invite your attention
to some facts in connection therewith, as shown by the books of this Institution.

The statements in the Director’s annual reports from 1858 to 1861 inclusive by fiscal ears,
covers the same period of time as the enclosed statement by calendar years, both statements
beginning at the same time, viz July 1st, 1857, there having been no coinage executed at this Mint
prior to July 1857, since the 19th of August 1856, owing to repairs then being made in the Coiner’s
Department.

Consequently the figures embraced in the printed reports of coinage executed from 1858 to
1861 inclusive should agree in totals with my report. They do not however in the gold coinage as will be seen by the following comparison. Viz.

Calendar Years from Directors Reports
1857 to 1861 1858 to 1861
Double Eagles $1,973,820 $1,719,000
Eagles 389,000 389,000
Making a difference of $254,000 in Double Eagles, which has never to my knowledge, been shown
in any printed report or public document.

This discrepancy arises from the fact that coinage operations were continued at this Mint
until May 31st, 1861. The records show that on January 31, 1861 the bullion and coin were seized in
the name of the State of Louisiana. I can find nothing to show that any silver coins were made after
January 31, but the gold account of the Coiner shows the following deliveries, up to May 28, 1861, the coinage of which was evidently performed by the Coiner, Mr. B. F. Taylor, under the auspices of the Confederate or State Government.

Deliveries
Febry 15, 1861 Double Eagles $ 85,000
March 18th, 22nd & 30th Double Eagles 110,000
April 30th Double Eagles 5,000
May 28th Double Eagles 54,820
Total coinage of which there is no printed record $254,820

The silver coinage is correct. I enclose in addition to the statement called for, a report by fiscal years
from 1858 of the gold coinage, corrected to conform with written records.

At an early day, if the records can be found, I propose to prepare a statement of coinage
executed at this Mint both by Calendar & Fiscal Years from its organization.
I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
Martin V. Davis
Superintendent

[RG 104, entry 229, box 14 of 17]

[HawkeEye]

This is really interesting because this is where I paused my analysis of the superintendents and where I will pick up again. The last superintendent was William Augustus Elmore before the State took over and I don't think

I know I have seen research showing that the State of Louisiana did seize some stores of gold and silver and limited coins were made using US dies. I thought there was evidence that some coins were made using altered dies.

[pup_picker]

Total coinage of which there is no printed record $254,820 !!!

[HawkeEye]

Probably my age, but I thought there were some CSA records of letters documenting (bragging) about the capture of the Mint and coins struck with existing and altered dies.

[RogerB]

This might help ----

[HawkeEye]

Thanks for finding this reference as always. Maybe I am just thinking about other references to CSA coinage and not New Orleans specific.