1809 Draped Bust to Left Half Eagle - 1809/8

Coin Details

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Description

This is the 1809/8 overdate variety of the 1809 Draped Bust to Left 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. Part of the Draped Bust to Left Half Eagles 1807-1812 series, the 1809 Draped Bust to Left Half Eagle - 1809/8 is a Gold Half Eagle from the Philadelphia Mint. Every 1809 Draped Bust to Left Half Eagle is the 1809/8 overdate, so the issue's mintage of 33,875 is this variety's own. The obverse features Liberty facing left wearing a mob cap or turban with a larger, draped bust and the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with shield on breast, olive branch and arrows in talons, with a banner reading E PLURIBUS UNUM. The 1809/8 overdate is a collected variety. Production continued at Philadelphia. 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 #8104.