Coin - Confederate Penny Restrike

Restrike of one of the rarest coins ever made. This beautiful 1 cent coin shows a date of 1861 below the words CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA which surround an image of Lady Liberty with her hair covered by a Liberty Cap.

The reverse shows a wreath of corn, cotton, maple, tobacco, wheat, two barrels and a bale of cotton surrounding 1 CENT

The original dies were made by a Pennsylvania engraver named Robert Lovett. Lovett made about a dozen sample coins before hiding the coins and the dies in his basement until 1873 out of fear he could be charged with aiding the enemy. A collector tracked down Lovett and bought the dies and coins, restriking an unknown number of coins in gold, silver and copper. The dies were passed between a number of collectors before landing at the Smithsonian.