Capped Bust Half Dimes 1829-1837

About This Series

When half dime production resumed in 1829 after a 24-year hiatus — no half dimes had been struck since 1805 — John Reich's Capped Bust design was adapted for the denomination using the close collar technology introduced by Chief Coiner Adam Eckfeldt. This technological innovation produced coins of uniform diameter with precise edge reeding, a significant improvement over the variable dimensions of earlier Mint products. The series is relatively short at nine years and includes no extreme rarities, making it one of the most completable early American silver series for collectors of moderate means. The Logan-McCloskey (LM) reference catalogs die varieties throughout the series, identifying dozens of die marriages that sustain specialist interest. Struck in .8924 fine silver at 1.35 grams on a 15.5mm planchet, these tiny coins served as the smallest silver denomination during a period when the dime, quarter, and half dollar carried the bulk of silver-based commerce. Mintages were generally healthy, ranging from 871,000 to over 2.7 million, ensuring adequate circulation supplies. The Capped Bust half dime appeals strongly to type collectors as the only half dime type combining artistic merit with broad accessibility, since earlier types are significantly scarcer and the later Seated Liberty spans a longer, more complex series.

Series Information