I have used the National Archives in Ft. Worth several times. The data displayed in the gold book shows why the mintage records for the $20 1861-O gold double-eagle is incorrect. The data does not end in 1860 as you stated. It ends with January 16,1861....which is the short period before the State of Louisiana took over.

Coin books reflect the wrong mintage records for the gold and silver produced in this one month period. You might be interested in my November 2011 article in The Numismatist which shows mintage records based on a Treasury Department audit in December, 1871 which covered the gold and silver produced at the New Orleans mint from 1838 through January, 1861. You might be interested in my story: "The New Orleans Mint Treasure" free at: www.tomhoke.com

Much of the excellent data from the records in Ft. Worth is cited in my story.

The inventory of gold in the New Orleans Mint on January 30, 1861 does not reflect the minted coins which were legally removed from the mint in the many January exchanges of British sovereigns for the gold in the mint, except as a notation most of the gold had already been credited to individuals who had already removed it from the mint and dumped it into Citizens Bank.

The silver half-dollars also have mintage numbers which show there was a "problem."

I have a query in to the Treasury Department...to see if they stand behind their December, 1871 audit....or the mintage figures in our coin books. Probably I will get a "diplomatic" nothing....reply.

All the best....and yes, the New Orleans Mint records in Ft. Worth are being used!