Numismatic

1810 Bust Half Dollar Fine

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In the early decades of the United States Mint, silver coinage served as a crucial pillar of daily commerce. This 1810 half dollar, struck in Philadelphia, represents a fascinating era of American coin design. Minted in 0.8924 fine silver, the coin contains 0.3868 troy ounces of precious metal and showcases the distinct aesthetic of the early nineteenth century. This particular specimen survives in Fine condition, showing honest wear from its time circulating in the young republic. The obverse presents a left-facing profile of Lady Liberty, her hair draped beneath a soft cap. The word LIBERTY is inscribed above her, with the year 1810 anchored at the bottom of the design. This portrait, created by designer John Reich, offered a fresh, contemporary representation of the national icon during a period of growth and definition for the United States. On the reverse, a detailed eagle grips an olive branch and a bundle of arrows in its talons, shielded by a heraldic escutcheon on its breast. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is displayed on a scroll above the eagle, surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. At the very bottom, the denomination is noted with the shorthand 50 C, representing its fifty-cent value in a young nation still establishing its monetary traditions.