1861 CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA TOKEN $20 GOLDEN CSA MEDAL CIVIL WAR COIN BU

The story behind these concept coins. The Confederate gold coin restrikes. On April 29, 1861, Superintendent Elmore forwarded a design to Secretary Memminger. This design was prepared by the New Orleans architectural firm of Messers, Gallier & Esterbrook.The description which accompanied this design is as follows:

"...The principal figure, the Goddess of Liberty, seated, holds in her right hand a staffsurmounted by the liberty cap; her left arm rests on a shield (there being no coat of arms yet adopted) is shown a portion of the flag of the Confederate, unfurlrd; to the left of the figure will be observed surgar-cane growing, a bale of cotton, a sugar hogshead, and a bale of tobacco; to the right, cotton in its various stages of growth, as also tobacco. On the reverse side is an endless chain composed of fifteen links; South Carolina, having taken the lead, occupies the top link, and the other link represents, right and left, the other States in the order of their secession; the remaining blank lines are an invitation to the border States to hasten to inscribe their names within the circle. The stars of the ConfederateStates are distinct; those of the border States are in twilight, but visable, soon, we hope, to stand out boldly as their neighbors. In the centre is inscribed the monogram, composed the letters C.S.A. 

   Judah B. Benjamin proposed that the Government issue a $5 gold coin of the exact value of the English sovereign. "I would call the coin a cavalier. Our golden cavalier would be: in French, cavalier d'or; in Spanish, Caballero d'oro; in Italian cavaliere d'oro. We would have $5 and $20 pieces called cavaliers and quadruple cavaliers."

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