1803 Capped Bust to Right Half Eagle - 1803/2

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Description

This is the 1803/2 overdate variety of the 1803 Capped Bust to Right Half Eagle. Dies were expensive, and a serviceable die left over at the end of a year was often kept and re-dated rather than destroyed: the new digits were punched directly over the old ones. The earlier date survives underneath wherever its strokes fall outside the digits punched over it, which is why an overdate is read from the shapes that do not belong to the date as printed. The effect is in the die, so every coin struck from it carries the same remnant in the same position. The 1803 Capped Bust to Right Half Eagle - 1803/2, struck at the Philadelphia Mint, is part of the Capped Bust to Right Half Eagles 1795-1807 collection. Every 1803 Capped Bust to Right Half Eagle is the 1803/2 overdate, so the issue's mintage of 33,506 is this variety's own. The obverse features Liberty facing right in a tall soft cap, and the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with a shield on its breast, arrows and an olive branch in its talons, and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM on a scroll above. Multiple die varieties exist. Half eagles served as the primary American gold coin for commerce. Struck in 91.7% gold, 8.3% silver and copper, weighing 8.75 grams, 25 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Cataloged as PCGS #8084.