1848 Liberty Eagle Five Dollar Gold Piece

I was commissioned to carve a Confederate theme on an 1848 Liberty Eagle $5.00 Gold Piece. The coin was very worn, but the date was in fairly good condition. Due to the wear, the starting weight of the coin was 4.8 dwt(penny weight). The coin is .900 fine gold. The challenge of this carving was to completely recarve both sides of the coin in detail while maintaining the maximum weight. The obverse features the profile of a Confederate Soldier. The reverse features the Confederate flag. The finished weight was 4.4 dwt. I was pleased to lose only 0.4 dwt while achieving the desired carving results.

Note: Although 1848 was Pre Civil War, it marked the end of the Mexican-American War and the addition of new territory. This renewed the debate over westward expansion and slavery.