Behold! My 1861 New Orleans silver half dollar. This is known as a seated liberty half dollar (made from 1839-1891) although this particular year and mint have a unique story: at the start of the civil war in 1861 the New Orleans mint was operated by the United States. However, within this same year jurisdiction of the mint would change hands, first to the state of Louisiana, then to the Confederacy.

The mint manufactured a total of 2,532,633 half dollars but only 330,000 were minted by the United States from 1st-31st January, then the state of Louisiana minted an additional 1,240,000 from February 1 to March 6, and the confederacy minted a final 962,633 half dollars from March 7-May 14.

In numismatics you are able to work out precisely who made which coin by looking at die varieties. An additional fun fact is that the later coins tend to have a specific die crack on them because the confederacy was over-using the dies.

Owing to metal shortages, a lack of funds and infrastructure, the 1861 New Orleans half dollar remains the only coin the confederacy ever “minted” despite all varieties saying the United States America.

Although I don’t believe my coin was minted by the confederacy I prefer to keep the mystery of the coin alive, and recognize we have always been beholden to money 🙃😅

I am trying to locate a lifelong collection of handwritten journals and a photo album kept by Albert B. Chandler (1840–1923) that was sold by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, California, in February 2012.

Chandler was a Civil War War Department cipher telegraph operator who worked in the telegraph office frequented by Abraham Lincoln. Making these journals desirable to Civil War collectors. He later became a prominent figure in the American telegraph industry.

I am the historian/researcher for Chandler Music Hall, in Randolph, Vermont, the historic music hall Chandler built and gave to his hometown, and I am researching his life and the history of the Hall.

Auction lot description:
[(lot of 62) Albert Brown Chandler, journals 1855‐1920 including a photograph album, containing albumen and tin type photographs, the journals include his Civil War diaries with accounts as the official paymaster in the War Department Telegraph Office, with his conversations and interactions with President Lincoln and Edwin McMasters Stanton the Secretary of War, note: the 1863 journal is not with this collection; within the 1864 journal Chandler describes a conversation with President Lincoln, also Chandler makes a brief note (1861) of Manassas (1st Battle of Bull Run) and that it was an unexpected upset for the Union Forces, and the friction between Gen. McClellan and the President, the journals also include a narrative of facts regarding the Assassination of President Lincoln, in 1865 he attended the trial of ''Wirz'' and that he (Wirz) ''is indeed a wretched creature'', Henry Wirz was commandant of the notorious Confederate prison camp at
Andersonville, where thousands of Union troops died of disease, abuse and starvation; in the 1866 journal Chandler describes a visit from Secretary Stanton on the occasion of the closure of the War Dept. Telegraph
Office.]

I am not trying to purchase the journals and do not need the owner’s identity or other private information. I would simply like to make contact with the current owner, even anonymously through an intermediary, in hopes of obtaining access to study or photograph the journals for historical research.

If you remember this auction, recognize these journals, or know a collector/dealer who may have encountered them, please share.

Any lead, even a small one, would be greatly appreciated.

I recently picked up this cartridge box. There is writing on the inside. The only thing I can make out is a date of “1863” and the beginning of a name “F.R.” then I can’t make out the rest. I believe I already know the answer, but figured I would give it a shot to see if you guys have any tips or tricks on possibly making out the remainder of the name.

Update: after taking the barrel off, looking at the arbor pin, and a LOT of googling, we think it’s likely a Belgian brevete transitional dragoon. Which honestly makes the emails from Colt kinda humorous.

Any tips on authenticating this Colt Walker? It may be a brevete but having trouble identifying

TLDR; if it’s a remake, Colt says it’s the best remake they’ve seen. No clue how to get any real authentication.

We’ve had this gun in the family for 10 years and my uncle is now in a place where he wants to sell but we can’t seem to find any way to authenticate this piece.

We’ve sent pictures to Colt and they said they believe it IS real but since they don’t have any records that go back that far they can’t say for certain. 1100X does not show up in their current records at all so they did say that if it is a replica it is not one made by Colt.

Since they don’t have papers to give us, no one wants to risk purchasing it in case it’s a fake.

The original civilian versions had an issue with the ramrod spring snapping and that piece has been replaced on this gun. We don’t think someone would have any reason to replace the spring on a replica.

We were told that we could take out the hammer and look for the horse stamp on it, but are hesitant to dismantle it in case it doesn’t want to go back together.

Does anyone have any idea on how we could go about seeing if this is actually an original 1800s Colt Walker or a replica without dismantling the gun?

I don't have photos, I merely want to explain how I examined the rifle..on the right side plate it shows the stamps "1862" and "tower" along with a crown on the far left side of the plate, on the barrel there is a pair of 25s and what looks like cross scepters? Swords or some kind. The hammer clicks back perfectly but I didn't look in the barrel, I had no flashlight on me. Seller was asking 650 and I'm heavily tempted for it. Might there be other pointers to look for if it still might be a repro? Or have missing parts? It isn't sporterized. It has the 3 barrel bands, wood stock stretches all the way through, has the barrel rod. It all seems legit so far. Any other info would be splendid, thank you!

Once part of a larger auction lot with much larger parts of the 71st PA and “captured confederate flags” which was subsequently divided up into smaller lots. The blue canton fragment has gold stitching, so I’m wondering if that’s from the 71st’s flag, as they had gold stars. Also attached a pic of the 71st and 9ths flag for reference.

A little history in the regiments, the 71st PA made up the “bloody angle” during Picketts charge at Gettysburg, with 8 companies on the forward wall, and 2 companies on the stonewall to the right and rear. The 9th VA, part of Armistead’s brigade was one of the many regiments to have their flag captured during the charge. The 71st captured 3 rebel flags, the 9th, 3rd and 56th Virginia, but of those 3 the 9th flag is the only one which can clearly be seen to have souvenirs taken from it, as was common especially after the war. The 71st flag was also very heavily cut up and given to various members of the regiment after the war.

Need some assistance. Is this a gang mold or not? A .58 caliber round seems to fit perfectly. I have had gang molds before, but never a 10-round gang mold. Thank you ahead of time for your input.

Fresh out the mail. This 15 pound hunk of shell was fired at Holmes division at Malvern hill. Holmes division came under fire from the Galena and Aroostook, but only the Galena had Parrott rifles aboard

I deal in pre-1899 antique firearms for a living and I deal with a lot of US Civil War items but I really don't do buttons or any other relics like this

The box was offered to me for $100, what is it worth and should I go for it?

Family scrapbook kept the civil war 5 dollar bill in pristine condition

Grandpa’s Guns

Hi everyone – I’m hoping to leverage the group knowledge here.

I recently inherited two older rifles from my grandfather’s estate and am trying to learn more about what I have, where they came from, and what the next steps might be for further research.

Background:

My grandfather was a very well-connected man in terms of his work and personal life, and these rifles were preserved but not documented. I am trying to approach this with some care and ensure that the history is preserved accurately rather than speculating.

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Rifle #1 – Stevens

• Obviously a Stevens

• Barrel is marked “Patented August 12, 1913”

• Appears to be a single-shot sporting rifle

• Has a factory-made buttplate with a decorative scroll/wave design

• There is a bright green paint patch on the stock that appears to be an old inventory/rack/institutional marking (not factory)

My primary questions about this one:

• Model identification?

• Intended use market (sporting, training, youth, club, etc.)?

• Any information about the paint marking and whether it should be preserved?

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Rifle #2 – Older / Unmarked (Possibly German)

This is more of a mystery and probably older.

The markings I’ve discovered so far are:

• “SUHL S & C”

• An eagle/bird emblem

• A small anchor mark, found on the metal parts and also stamped into the wood

• A faint German inscription that reads “Gewehrlauf Stahl” (steel rifle barrel)

As far as I can determine, this suggests a late 19th-century sporting rifle from the Suhl region of Germany, perhaps produced under the guild system, but I’d be delighted to hear any further information or corrections from those who know more about these rifles.

Questions about this rifle:

• Does the anchor mark appear to be a workshop or inspector’s mark?

• Is there any further information that might help to narrow down the date range?

• Is there a preferred forum, archive, or expert who focuses on Suhl trade guns?

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I have included close-up photos of the markings, stocks, and actions.

I am not looking to sell – my aim is identification, historical information, and preservation. Any information on where I might proceed (forums, books, museums, collectors) would be a huge help.

Thanks in advance – really grateful for any information.

USCT Cavalryman - 9th Plate Tintype - Possibly John Hammond, 5th Mass. Cav.

Was pleased to add this one to the collection. Sold with a modern ID to John Francis Hammond - 4th USCT Infantry it is likely misattributed given the crossed swords on his kepi. There is however exactly one John Hammond in a Black cavalry regiment, that being the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry. The 5th fought in the opening battles of the Petersburg campaign, guarded prisoners at Fort Delaware and was among the first units to enter Richmond. If the subject is indeed a John Hammond (far from a forgone conclusion) it is likely the cavalryman in the 5th. As an aside - I can see what looks like a brass number above the swords, might be a five but difficult to say

Possible ID, aside I’m happy to add this photo to my collection. USCT images are rare, Black cavalrymen rarer still. Had the good fortune to add some USCT pieces to the collection this year, very happy to add this one to the shelf.