Identifying a Confederate Half-Dollar: Real or Replica?

The described coin—featuring a shield with "Confederate States of America" on one side and "CSA New Orleans 1861 4 originals struck by order" on the other—is almost certainly a modern reproduction. Authentic 1861 Confederate half-dollars are extraordinarily rare; only four originals were struck, and they bear no such explanatory text. Genuine pieces are silver with sharp, high-relief details. If your coin is base metal (copper, brass) or has low relief, it's a replica. The reverse inscription itself is a telltale sign of a commemorative copy.