The Provisional Constitution

The Provisional Constitution of the Confederate States of America was adopted and in force from February 8^th through March 11^th 1861.

At Montgomery, Alabama on February 4^th 1861 a convention made up of delegates from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina met to begin setting up a new government.  Before they could begin working, the Montgomery Convention needed a set of rules to follow.  Christopher Gustavus Memminger proposed a committee be created on February 5^th 1861 to draft a provisional constitution.  Thomas Reade Rootes Cobb of Georgia moved that the committee be made up of twelve, two members from state delegation.

Because of the necessity of having a constitution the committee worked fast.  On February 7^th 1861 they had copies made of their purposed constitution and distributed to the convention members.  There was very little debate, the main changes being an inclusion of the words “Invoking the favor of Almighty God” in the preamble, providing executive veto, and combining circuit and district courts into one state district.

The Provisional Constitution was ratified on February 8^th 1861.  All the members present signed the document at noon on the day of Jefferson Davis’ inauguration as the first and only President of the Confederacy on February 18^th 1861.  Fifty men signed the Provisional Constitution including the delegates from Texas who were admitted on March 2^nd 1861.

The Provisional Constitution was nullified on March 11^th 1861, when the permanent Constitution of the Confederate States of America was ratified.

If you would like to read the Constitution for the Provisional Government you’ll find it here

Coins Minted

The Confederate Coinage Bill passed the Confederate Congress March 9^th 1861, authorizing the minting of up to Fifty million dollars.

As the Civil War got rolling, the cost of that war became a reality.  Most precious metals available in the Confederacy were sent to Europe to buy military equipment, but a few coins were minted.  In early March 1861 the Confederacy commissioned Robert Lovett Jr of Philadelphia, PA to design and engrave a one cent piece.  Some of the coins were minted using the then standard cupronickel, however the thought of being held for helping the enemy made Lovett stop his work, and he hid the dies for the coin.  There were some half dollar coins minted by orders of Christopher Gustavus Memminger the Confederate Secretary of the Treasury, on a hand press at the New Orleans Mint, with a die made by engraver AHM Peterson.  There were also gold dollars minted in Dahlonega, GA, as well as half eagles in Dahlonega and Charlotte, NC.  Do to the difficulty of getting metals, all the mints within the Confederacy were closed June 1^st 1861.

The Confederacy solved their problem of coinage by making United States silver coins up to $10 legal, as well as English, French, Mexican and Spanish coins.