1824 GW-112-C1 Washington-Lafayette on 1824 Over Various Dates Half Dollar

Coin Details

Description

Combining three distinct numismatic interests in a single piece, this Washington-Lafayette dual-portrait counterstamp (Baker 196, Musante GW-112) appears on an 1824 over various dates overdate Capped Bust half dollar — a recognized variety in the federal half dollar series where the 1824 date was punched over a previously dated die. The overdate host coin adds a third layer of collectibility beyond the Washington-Lafayette medallic tradition and the historically significant 1824 date that coincides with Lafayette's triumphal farewell tour of the United States. The Capped Bust half dollar series, designed by John Reich and produced at the Philadelphia Mint in 90% silver, frequently employed the practice of overdating — re-using working dies from previous years by punching new date numerals over the old — as an economy measure that extended die life but created the overdate varieties now eagerly collected by early federal silver specialists. The dual-portrait counterstamp presents Washington and Lafayette in profile, commemorating the legendary friendship between the American commander-in-chief and the young French aristocrat who volunteered for the Revolutionary cause at age nineteen. Lafayette's 1824 return to America, fifty years after his first arrival, drew massive crowds in every city he visited and spawned an industry of commemorative objects. Extremely rare, the combination of an overdate host coin with the Washington-Lafayette counterstamp creates a piece with overlapping appeal to collectors of Washington medals, Lafayette memorabilia, Capped Bust half dollar varieties, and overdate coinage — ensuring intense competition whenever an example surfaces at auction.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Overdate host coin adds significant numismatic interest.

Cross References

Baker 196; Musante GW-112