Capped Bust Half Dollar

About This Series

John Reich designed the Capped Bust half dollar in 1807, and it ran for over 30 years in two types: the "lettered edge" version through 1836, followed by a reeded-edge version as improved machinery arrived at the Mint. The series has many die varieties cataloged by Overton numbers, making it one of the most intensely studied areas in early American coinage. The 1838-O and 1839-O are the only branch-mint issues and both are major rarities. Collectors also watch for overdates among the earlier dates, including the 1817/4. Building a complete Overton variety set is a decades-long project.