1827
Half Dollar - Capped Bust Half Dollar
- John Reich, the former indentured servant, designed
the Capped Bust Half Dollar. The obverse shows Liberty
in profile facing left wearing a LIBERTY inscribed
cap that was intended to represent a Phrygian cap.
Seven stars are to her left and six are to the right
with the date below the truncation. The reverse shows
the heraldic eagle with wings pointing downward. Above
the eagle, on a banner, is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.
The required inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
surrounds the coin, interrupted by the wing tips,
and the denomination written as 50 C. is below.
For its time, the
Capped
Bust Half Dollar was the workhorse of American
coinage. Hundreds of dies were used creating a huge
number of die varieties. Capped Bust half dollars
are often collected by date as well as by die variety
today.
Specifications: Designer: John Reich Weight: 13.48 grams Composition: .8924 silver, .1076
copper Diameter: approximately 32.5 mm Edge: 1807-1814 FIFTY CENTS OR HALF
A DOLLAR; 1814-1831 Star added between DOLLAR and
FIFTY; 1832-1836 Vertical lines added between words.
