A Capped Bust Half Dollar contains 0.3867 troy oz of silver for the Lettered edge (1807–1836) and 0.3867 troy oz of silver for the Reeded edge (1836–1839).

Spot price as of July 22, 2026

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.

Specifications

Lettered edge, 1807–1836

Composition: 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper
Fineness: 89.2%
Weight: 13.48 g
Diameter: 32.5 mm
ASW: 0.3867 oz
Years Produced: 1807–1839

ASW and melt value by era

Capped Bust Half Dollar composition by era
Era	Years	Weight	Fineness	ASW	Melt value
Lettered edge	1807–1836	13.48 g	89.2%	0.3867 oz	$22.98
Reeded edge	1836–1839	13.37 g	90.0%	0.3867 oz	$22.98