1827 Capped Bust Half Dollar
About This Coin
John Reich’s Capped Bust design defined the half dollar throughout the early decades of the nineteenth century, serving as the primary workhorse of American commerce. Struck with a lettered edge, these silver coins were heavily utilized in interbank transfers and merchant trade, meaning the vast majority saw relentless circulation.
By 1827, the Philadelphia Mint was operating near its pre-steam peak, producing dies with distinct individual character. An AU58 grade sits in that sweet spot prized by advanced numismatists: a coin that retains the crisp, elevated details of a fresh strike while bearing only the faintest traces of handling. It preserves the full visual authority of nineteenth-century minting without having suffered the heavy pocket wear typical of the era.
For a date run or a dedicated type set of early federal silver, this half dollar represents an honest, dignified survivor of Reich's classic design.
