General Comments
1861 can be compared to years in the late 1850’s – mintage indicates ready availability, but experience
indicates otherwise. 1861 coins are scarce to rare in any grade. Despite a mintage ranking of 31st out
of 46, examples are more difficult to locate than either 1859 or 1860. That said, this date is probably
less underrated than the two mentioned above. The market has done a better job of recognizing its rarity.
Most authors believe that the export of dollars was reduced by 1861. It’s likely that many were melted
within our borders, simply because their silver content was several percent over their face value. Another
factor that affects value should not be underestimated – the demand by collectors of Civil War memorabilia.
This single factor probably doubles the demand for this and the other Civil War dates.
Nice examples can be located, but patient searching is required. High grades, both proof and business strikes,
are more available than lower grades. The population reports show that over 40% of the business strikes
currently in holders are MS60 or better, with another 30% in various grades of AU. Problem-free examples in
grades lower than XF are extremely rare, and will generally bring much higher prices than most price guides
would indicate. The two major grading services have graded only 16 coins less than VF20, with another 13
graded in the VF20-VF35 range. Collectors assembling a set in any grade less than XF will have a real challenge.
Examples grading less than F12 are virtually unavailable. PCGS has graded 7 such coins. NGC has yet to grade
a single example. The finest known business strike is a single MS66 graded by PCGS. 7 coins have received a
MS65 grade, 4 at PCGS and 3 at NGC. One of the PCGS coins was given a MS65+ evaluation. 41 have received a
MS64 grade. A total of 106 coins have been graded at all mint state levels. Population statistics are as of
February, 2020.
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Mintage | 78,500 |
Proof mintage | 1000 |
Mintage ranking | 31st |
Finest known | MS66 PR67 |
Known obverse dies | 5 |
Known reverse dies | 6 |
Known die marriages | 6 |
Most common die marriage | OC-2/ R3+ |
Rarest business strike die marriage | OC-3/ R6- |
Rarest proof die marriage | OC-P1/ R4+ |
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Proofs are much rarer than the mintage of 1000 would indicate. We estimate the total survivors at around 250.
Apparently, as many as 600 were melted to obtain silver for lower denomination coinage. Because of this the
survival rate is much lower than the rates for subsequent years. The finest known proofs are three coins
graded PR67, one by PCGS and two by NGC. 11 coins have received a PR66 grade. 20 have been rated as PR65,
with four of these graded PR65+. A total of 262 coins have been graded in all levels of proof by the two
major grading services. Several of these are surely re-submissions. Population statistics are as of
March, 2020.
1861 examples are usually well struck. Some will have very slight softness on the star centrals, but all other
obverse details are usually above average. Reverses are almost always sharp, although some examples will show
a slight lack of definition on the upper edge of the eagle’s left wing. High-grade business strikes are often
prooflike or semi-prooflike. With a low mintage and 4 different die pairs the dies didn’t get a chance to wear
off their initial prooflike surfaces.
1861 Die Marriages
6 die marriages have been positively identified. Four obverse dies were each paired with a different reverse
die to strike business strikes. All business strike die marriages are scarce, the most common rated R3+.
None of the business strike dies were used for proofs. A single obverse die was paired with two different
reverses to produce two proof die marriages. Breen identifies a third proof die marriage, but we have not
been able to confirm its existence. We suspect that it was an early state of one of the business strike die
marriages. We should note that the first edition of our book identified the second proof reverse die as
Reverse 1861 PB. Since that time John Pack of Stacks-Bowers identified a proof of 1861 which paired the
known proof obverse with 1856 Reverse PA. A review of our research confirmed that the die that we had
identified as 1861 Reverse PB was actually 1856 Reverse PA. This web site and our to-be-published Second
Edition now reflect this change. Our thanks to John for being observant enough to correctly identify the
second 1861 proof reverse.
We should note that it’s very possible that additional die pairings exist. The 1861 reverse dies are difficult
to attribute, almost impossible when only a photo is available. We could have missed identifying a new die
pair simply because we were unable to differentiate the reverse dies.
Click the links below to view the details of each die marriage.
Die Marriage |
Rarity |
Obverse Die |
Reverse Die |
Estimated Survivors |
OC-1 |
R5+ | 1 | A | 45 |
OC-2 |
R3+ | 2 | B | 265 |
OC-3 |
R6- | 3 | C | 30 |
OC-4 |
R4- | 4 | D | 160 |
OC-P1 |
R4+ | P1 | PA | 110 |
OC-P2 |
R4 | P1 | 1856 PA | 140 |
1861 Business Strike Emission Sequence
Since there is no overlap of business strike dies the emission sequence can't be determined. If
additional die marriages are discovered which share any of these dies we’ll update the emission
sequence.
Emission Order |
Die Marriage |
Comments |
1 | OC-1 | |
2 | OC-2 | |
3 | OC-3 | |
4 | OC-4 | |
1861 Proof Emission Sequence
We believe that the extent of die polish on Obverse P1 indicates that the sequence
listed below is correct. However, the differences are minute, and open to interpretation. Suffice it
to say that we took our best shot.
Emission Order |
Die Marriage |
Comments |
1 | OC-P1 | |
2 | OC-P2 | Reduction of the unfinished area under the chin
indicates that OC-P2 followed OC-P1.
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1861 Quick Finder Chart
Attribution of 1861 die marriages can be difficult. See our comments in the 1861 Die Marriage section above.
Neither the obverse nor reverse dies display major markers. Date positions are different enough to allow
attribution, but the differences are minor, so care must be taken. The following table lists the keys for
identifying each variety.
Die Marriage |
Obv Die |
Rev Die |
Right Base of 1 |
Keys |
OC-1 | 1 | A | LE |
Obverse:   Vertically centered date.
Reverse:   A light die line slants down to the right in the upper right corner of the 7th shield recess.
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OC-2 | 2 | B | RE |
Obverse:   Date slants VS down. A tiny lump at the base of the unfinished area under the chin.
Reverse:   A tiny lump at the top of the branch just left of the left claw.
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OC-3 | 3 | C | JL of C |
Obverse:   1st 1 is JL of C and slightly low. 2nd 1 is centered.
Reverse:   No notable markers.
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OC-4 | 4 | D | JL of C |
Obverse:   Low date. Faint die lines from the denticles below the heel.
Reverse:   No notable markers.
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OC-P1 | P1 | PA | B |
Obverse:   Very low date.
Reverse:   Slightly unfinished between the leaves.
| OC-P2 | P1 | 1856 PA | B |
Obverse:   Very low date.
Reverse:   Die rust lumps on the L in DOL and the first S in STATES.
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Photo credits:
Obverse and reverse full photos:   1861 NGC MS65, ex. Quellar, from the Heritage archives.
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