Numismatic

1810 Bust Half Dollar VG

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In the early decades of the United States, the half dollar served as a vital workhorse of American commerce. The 1810 issue stands as a remarkable survivor from this foundational era of federal coinage. Struck in Philadelphia from a silver alloy containing 0.3868 troy ounces of pure precious metal, this coin represents a total mintage of 1,276,276 pieces. Designed by John Reich, the coin features a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty on its obverse, her hair draped beneath a cap inscribed with the word LIBERTY. Thirteen stars flank her image, with the year 1810 anchored at the bottom of the design. The reverse displays a heraldic eagle holding an olive branch and arrows in its talons, protected by a striped shield. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is suspended on a scroll above the eagle, while the denomination is indicated at the very bottom as 50 C. This particular specimen survives in Very Good condition, displaying the honest wear of a coin that circulated heavily during the early nineteenth century. For enthusiasts of early American mint history, examining the hand-carved details of Reich's design offers a direct connection to the young republic's financial beginnings.