1831 Capped Bust Half Dollar
Base
About This Coin
The 1831 Capped Bust Half Dollar is a United States half dollar from the Capped Bust Half Dollars 1807-1839 series — 24th of 32 years in the series. In 1831, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 5.9 million. This ranks 19th of 32 years by total mintage, above 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. Minted during the age of Jacksonian democracy and the rise of the common man, as new branch mints opened in Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans. 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. Across its variants, estimated values range from $105 to $2.5K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $79K in PR65 grade at Heritage Auctions. Designed by John Reich.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — range across all strike types, reflecting typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
