Until the discovery of the Civil War-era steamship the SS Republic, owning an 1861-O Liberty Seated Half Dollar officially attributed to the State of Louisiana was only an impossible dream. These coins were minted for just a brief period of time during the outbreak of the American Civil War as the State of Louisiana seceded from the Union. In late January 1861 the State of Louisiana took control of the mint and continued to produce identical half dollars with the Federal dies. Control of the mint changed again less than two months later, switching official mint authority to the Confederate States of America.

Through careful study, coin experts are now able to identify and attribute six different die marriages to the State of Louisiana's control of the New Orleans Mint.

Now, for the first time ever, you can own an 1861-O "Louisiana Issue" half dollar certified and attributed by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Each coin is individually numbered, encapsulated with a special label bearing the Louisiana flag clearly noting the issuing authority and arrives in an impressive hardwood display case with a Certificate of Authenticity and romance card telling the story of the SS Republic and the New Orleans Mint.