1817 Capped Bust Half Dollar

About This Coin

The 1817 Capped Bust Half Dollar is a United States half dollar from the Capped Bust Half Dollars 1807-1839 series — 10th of 32 years in the series. In 1817, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 4.9 million. This ranks 16th of 32 years by total mintage, below the series median of 5.0 million. 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 and 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. The 1817/3 overdate, created by punching a "7" over an existing "3" in the date, is a notable early variety. The 1817/4 also exists. 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. Struck two years after the 1815 key date, the lowest-mintage regular issue in the series. Across its variants, estimated values range from $178 to $5.6K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $334K in AU50 grade at David Lawrence RC. Designed by John Reich.