Numismatic

1817 Bust Half Dollar VF

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In 1817, the Philadelphia Mint produced a run of 1,215,567 silver half dollars, each containing 0.3868 troy ounces of silver. This early American coin, designed by John Reich, showcases the evolving artistic identity of a young nation. Struck with a silver purity of 0.8924, these pieces circulated heavily as a cornerstone of daily commerce, with surviving examples like this one displaying the honest wear of a Very Fine grade. The obverse of the coin features a left-facing profile of Lady Liberty, her hair draped beneath a soft cap. Above her image, the word "LIBERTY" is clearly inscribed, with the date "1817" anchored below her bust. This classic depiction captured the spirit of early nineteenth-century American ideals. On the reverse, an eagle holds an olive branch and arrows in its talons, its chest protected by a striped shield. The motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" is draped above the eagle, surrounded by the legend "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". At the very bottom, the denomination is noted as "50 C.", marking this historic silver piece as a fifty-cent coin.