1812 Capped Bust Half Dollar

About This Coin

The 1812 Capped Bust Half Dollar is a United States half dollar from the Capped Bust Half Dollars 1807-1839 series. The obverse features Liberty facing left wearing a mob cap or turban, designed by John Reich who worked as an indentured servant at the Mint, while the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with shield on breast, olive branch and arrows in talons, with a banner reading E PLURIBUS UNUM within a motto scroll. Designed by John Reich. Struck in 89.2% silver, 10.8% copper, weighing 13.5 grams, 32.5 mm in diameter, with a lettered: fifty cents or half a dollar edge. Produced at the Philadelphia Mint. John Reich's Capped Bust Half Dollar is one of the most variety-rich series in U.S. numismatics, with hundreds of die marriages cataloged in the Overton reference system. The large-size type (1807-1836) was succeeded by a reduced-size version (1836-1839) that introduced reeded edges and close-collar striking. A cornerstone of U.S. type collecting. Overton die varieties provide deep specialization. The 1807 is the first year and the 1838-O (only 20 known) is an extreme rarity.