Capped Bust Half Dollar Guide-Pictures

DanielDonCoins Website

CAPPED BUST HALF DOLLARS (1807-1839)

SPECIFICATIONS:

Designer: John Reich

Diameter: 32-33 millimeters

Metal content:

Silver - 89.2%

Copper - 10.8%

Weight: 208 grains (13.48 grams)

Edge: Lettered ("FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR")

Mint mark: None (all 1810 Half Dollars were struck at Philadelphia).

CAPPED BUST HALF DOLLARS (1807-1839)

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1807

1808

1809

1810

1811

1812

1813

1814

1815

1817

1818

1819

1820

1821

1822

1823

1824

1825

1826

1827

1828

1829

1830

1831

1832

1833

1834

1835

1836

REEDED EDGE, "CENTS" ON REVERSE (1836-1837)

1836

1837

REEDED EDGE, "HALF DOL." ON REVERSE (1836-1837)

1838

1838-O

1839

1839-O

Cap And Liberty ®

¬ Denomination

"50 C"

Images courtesy of Stack's

Images courtesy of a Mid-Atlantic collector

Images courtesy of Superior Galleries

FACTS:

The 1838-O Half Dollar was the first coin struck at the New Orleans Mint and one of the first branch mint coins of any denomination. The denomination was denoted three different ways on the reverse of the coin: 50 C.---50 Cents---Half Dollar. It's very rare and commands large premiums in infrequent auction appearances. Read about the 1838-O

Cherry Picker's List:

1807 This date comes with Large and Small Stars on the obverse. One variety has 50 punched over 20 on the reverse.

1808 Look for the slightly rarer 1808/7 overdate.

1809 Check the edge lettering on these - some come with irregular ornaments or I's between the words.

1811 Look for the slightly better "Punctuated Date" that has a defect that looks like a period between the 18 and 11 of the date.

1812 Look for the tougher 1812/1 overdates, Large 8 in the date is most rare.

1813 50 C. punched over UNI on the reverse.

1814 Look for the 1814/3 overdate or the engraving mistake which places the E of STATES over an A.

1815 All examples known of this rare date are 1815/2 overdates.

1817 Two overdates are found in this year - 1817/3 (scarce) and 1817/4 (extremely rare and valuable). Look for the 181.7 "punctuated date" variety.

1818 Several varieties including 1818/7 overdates.

1819 Includes some 1819/8 varieties.

1820 Includes 1820/19 overdates. The 2's in the date come with curved or straight bases - the 2's with straight bases come with or without knobs at the top.

1823 Popular varieties include "Broken 3", "Patched 3", and "Ugly 3".

1824 Many of overdates - 1824/1, 1824/4, and 1824.

1827 Look for the 1827/6 overdate. The 2's of this year are found with curved and square bases.

1828 The 2's of this year are found with curved and square bases.

1829 Look for the 1829/7 overdate.

1830 Found with Large and Small 0's in the date.

1836 Look for the blundered 50/00 reverse die. Late in this year, the reverse was modified by replacing the C of the denomination with CENTS and the edge lettering was replaced with reeding.

1839 The "Small Letters" reverse is extremely rare.

¬ Denomination

"Half Dollar"

DATE/MINT MARK	GRADE	VALUE
1807 Small stars	G4	$125
1807 Large stars	G4	$110
1807 50C/20C	G4	$100
1807 Bearded goddess	G4	$350
1808/7	G4	$80
1840 Medium Letters	G4	$125
1808	G4	$75
1809 Normal edge	G4	$70
1809 XXX Edge	G4	$85
1809 III Edge	G4	$85
1810	G4	$75
1811 Small 8	G4	$70
1811 Large 8	G4	$65
1811/0	G4	$80
1812/1 Small 8	G4	$85
1812/1 Large 8	G4	$2,000
1812	G4	$70
1812 Single leaf	G4	$------------
1813	G4	$70
1813 50C/UNI	G4	$90
1814	G4	$70
1814 E/A in STATES	G4	$85
1814 Single leaf	G4	$80
1814/3 O-101	G4	$110
1815/2	G4	$1,300
1817/3	G4	$175
181817/4	F12	$125,000
1817	G4	$70
1817 Punctuated date	G4	$---------------
1817 Single leaf	G4	$75
1818/7 Small 8	G4	$100
1818/7 Large 8	G4	$100
1818	G4	$75
1819/8 Small 9	G4	$85
1819/8 Large 9	G4	$110
1819	G4	$70
1820/19 Curl base 2	G4	$75
1820/19 Square base 2	G4	$100
1820 Large date, square base knob top 2	G4	$70
1820 Large date, square curl top 2	G4	$---------------
1820 Small date, curl base 2	G4	$60
1820 No serifs on Es	G4	$---------------
1821	G4	$75
1822	G4	$70
1822/1	G4	$100
1823	G4	$70
1823 Broken 3	G4	$85
1823 Patched 3	G4	$80
1823 Ugly 3	G4	$70
1824/1	G4	$85
1824/2/0	G4	$70
1824/4	G4	$75
1824	G4	$70
1825	G4	$70
1826	G4	$70
1827/6	G4	$100
1827 Square base 2	G4	$70
1827 Curl base 8	G4	$60
1828 Curl base no knob top 2	G4	$60
1828 Curl base knob top 2	G4	$75
1828 Large 8s, square base 2	G4	$60
1828 Small 8s, large letters	G4	$----------------
1828 Small 8s, small letters	G4	$60
1829/7	G4	$75
1829	G4	$60
1829 Large letters	G4	$----------------
1830 Large O	G4	$60
1830 Small O	G4	$60
1830 Large letters	G4	$1,800
1831	G4	$60
1832	G4	$60
1832 Large letters	G4	$60
1833	G4	$60
1834 Large date, large letters	G4	$60
1834 Large date, small letters	G4	$----------------
1834 Small date, large letters and stars	G4	$----------------
1835	G4	$60
1836	G4	$60
1836/1336	G4	$75
1836 50/00	G4	$85
1836 Beaded reverse border	G4	------------------
REEDED EDGE, 50 CENTS REVERSE
1836	G4	$1,200
1837	G4	$60
HALF DOLLAR REVERSE
1838	G4	$60
1838-O Proof only	EF40	$200,000
1839	G4	$65
1839-O	G4	$225

An example of a G4 grade Capped Bust Half Dollar

The listed values are for the grade G4, except the proofs, because Capped Bust Halves are commonly found in this condition. Coins that are damaged, scratched or cleaned in any way will be less then values listed in price guides. Also, the below values are just examples of what the date has sold for, and not what a dealer would pay for the same date, mint or grade.

Denomination ®

"50 CENTS"