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by John Sexton

Q: Hello – I am a history teacher who has had framed Civil War Bonds in The $500 bond has a vignette of Thomas Bragg, Attorney General
my possession for a number of years. I am curious if they are worth surrounded with allegorical figures, printed by Duncan, Columbia, SC.
anything? Thank you for your time. – Levi Thirty coupons are still attached though
the last one is marked “void” – usually
JS: There are over 300 types of coupons clipped off.
Confederate bonds. Both bonds here Neither bond is rare and average
were printed by B. Duncan in Columbia, examples can be found for about $125-
South Carolina. $150 each as can be another 30-40
The $100 has a vignette of RMT varieties. The reductions in the paper
Hunter, Confederate Secretary of State, detract at least half of the value.
signed by Robert Tyler registrar of the Paper Civil War collectibles are driven
treasury, numbered 672 of 857 issued, by aesthetics and condition.
complete with 30 attached coupons
for 8% interest each quarter until its Two examples of Civil War Bonds
appreciated for their aesthetic more than
maturity in 1868.
the monetary value of $125-$150 each.

Q: I have my great-great-grandfather’s service pistol from his days in the $7,000-$9,000. Condition dictates price and that is a reason to have a
civil war. It has been handed down through the generations since he was professional opinion as to originality. I am guessing our ancestor’s name
killed in the war at Suffolk, VA. on Jan. 30, 1863, at the age of 29. is not found on the gun or casing. That identity would add more value.
When my father received it, he had it restored and it is complete with all
allied equipment in the original box. I would appreciate an estimate of its Right,“U.S.” government ownership
markings are found on surplus
value. – Herb civilian market navies, also. Note the
inspector’s initials “V” on the trigger
JS: Herb, your Colt model 1851 Navy revolver appears to be in guard and “C” on the cylinder behind
beautiful condition retaining most of its original blue and case- the serial number.
colored finish.
I would need to see the revolver in person to give a definitive
opinion of originality, but I would be surprised if the restoration your
father had performed involved the metal portions of this gun. Based Left, very crisp rolled cylinder “naval
on its serial number, 79057, it was made in 1857. The U.S. Army battle” scene and a strong original blue
contracted for many guns to be made in this serial range and all were finish. The military sub-inspection
noted by the small “US” on the left side of the frame and the initial “S” on top of the barrel is not
normally found on civilian market
small stamped sub-inspector letters on various parts. The grips would revolvers.
have also been inspected with a final inspection cartouche if it was for
the military.
Army-purchased “navies” were not cased. Most likely (if all original) Right, grips appear varnished, not oil-finished and
this revolver was made for the civilian market given the uninspected inspected with no military cartouche.
varnished walnut grips and silver-plated grip frame. Military and The trigger guard is silver-plated which was not done
civilian blue finishes are different but difficult to tell from photos. on military revolvers.
Samuel Colt was frugal and extra parts were often used on civilian-
issue guns. Surplus military parts are often observed on revolvers sold Below, Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver in
in the civilian market, especially navies. The compartmented purple a display case, $7,000-$9,000.
velvet-like lined casing appears to be original also. The pack of
cartridges with string ties, loose bullets, and round caps box all appear
contemporary to the gun and probably original. The flask is not a Colt
flask, wrong size and has been added.
Hopefully, the only restoration your father did was to add compo-
nents to the casing and did nothing to the gun itself. Colt percussion
navy revolvers are not rare – over 200,000 were made. Revolvers
without presentations or special histories are valued based on their
condition. An average example in this serial range complete and
original grading by NRA antique standards “good” is valued at $800-
$1,200. Your gun appears to grade NRA “excellent” and is valued at

John Sexton is an independent appraiser and expert on Civil War memorabilia. He is an accredited member of various appraiser
organizations. He can be contacted at 770-329-4984. If you have a Civil War item for him to appraise, email a photo and a
description to him at: jsextonatlcom.ne@mindspring.com.

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