Varina Davis "Her Last Coin" Half-Dime, February 2, 1863

An 1860 half-dime coin mounted in a gold frame, measuring 0.75" in diameter, Richmond, Virginia, dated February 2, 1863. The frame is inscribed on the reverse, "From Mrs. President Davis Her Last Coin". The frame has a loop at the top, likely for the purpose of hanging on a chain. The story behind the coin is unknown to us, but it likely had some significant meaning. The coin is well-worn and there is moderate wear to the inscription. Very good.

Varina Anne Banks Howell Davis (1826-1906) was the second wife of President Jefferson Davis and the only First Lady of the Confederate States of America. She married on February 26, 1845, at the age of 19 (Davis was 37) and the couple went on to have six children. Despite being married to the President of the Confederacy, Varina did not support slavery and was rather hesitant about secession and the war. She had unusually strong opinions for a woman of her time, and is known to have said, "the South did not have the material resources to win the war and white Southerners did not have the qualities necessary to win it; that her husband was unsuited for political life; that maybe women were not the inferior sex; and that perhaps it was a mistake to deny women the suffrage before the war."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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