Numismatic

1823 Bust Half Dollar VF

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This silver half dollar from 1823 offers a window into the early decades of United States coinage. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the coin is composed of 89.24 percent silver, which equates to approximately 0.3868 troy ounces of precious metal. Having survived in Very Fine condition, it displays the clear, honest wear of a coin that actively circulated in the commerce of a young nation. The obverse side presents a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty wearing a soft cap, with her hair flowing down her shoulder. The word LIBERTY is inscribed upon her cap band, and the year 1823 is positioned beneath the bust. This classic depiction was created by designer John Reich, whose work defined the look of American silver coinage during this era. On the reverse, an American eagle is depicted with a patriotic shield draped across its chest. In its talons, the eagle grasps both an olive branch and a bundle of arrows, representing a dual message of peace and military readiness. Above the eagle, a scroll bears the national motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM, while the surrounding inscriptions read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination indicated as 50 C.