Harold Levi

The Lovett Cent; a Confederate Story Harold Levi

Black and White Version - The Confederate cent story has suffered for over one-hundred years. Robert Lovett, Jr., who made the dies, never provided any information, only comments in reported discussions. Union Capt. John W. Haseltine, who made restrikes of the cent, is the only person to describe creation of the Confederate cent yet he changed the story often. The inclusion of Bailey and Co in the story is dubious. Haseltine included Dr. Maris, but dropped him immediately. Was the National Bank Note Company involved? The dies have been a mystery for years. Lovett said they were delivered, but were not. The owners have been a mystery for years. The dies were donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1962 after modern restrikes were made. In 1874, the dies were damaged, which shows on the modern restrikes. The people involved with the Confederate cent and dies are reviewed as are modern fakes. The Robert Bashlow restrikes are reviewed. All of the Bashlow dies have been added to the Appendix.