Numismatic

1822 Bust Half Dollar Fine

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The 1822 Capped Bust half dollar represents an intriguing era of early United States coinage. Struck in Philadelphia with a composition of 89.24 percent silver, this fifty-cent piece contains 0.3868 troy ounces of precious metal. A total of 1,559,573 of these coins were minted, each carrying the artistry of designer John Reich during a period when the young nation was establishing its monetary identity. On the obverse side, the profile of Lady Liberty faces right, her hair covered by a draped cap. The word LIBERTY is inscribed above her, with the year 1822 anchored at the bottom. This depiction offers a window into the aesthetic sensibilities of early nineteenth-century American engraving. Flip the coin over to discover a detailed reverse design featuring an American eagle. The bird holds a defensive shield across its chest, clutching an olive branch of peace in one talon and a bundle of arrows in the other. Surrounding the central image are the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM on a scroll, and the denomination expressed as 50 C. at the base.