Numismatic

1823 Bust Half Dollar XF

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The year 1823 brought forth an intriguing piece of early American coinage in the Capped Bust half dollar. Struck in Philadelphia, this silver fifty-cent piece contains 0.3868 troy ounces of metal with a purity of 0.8924, representing the standard circulating coinage of the era. The physical specimen is preserved in Extra Fine condition, allowing observers to appreciate the finer details of its early nineteenth-century craftsmanship. On the obverse, a left-facing profile of Lady Liberty wears a soft cap, with her hair flowing down her shoulder. The word LIBERTY is clearly inscribed upon her band, while the date 1823 is positioned below the portrait. This side of the coin reflects the artistic vision of designer John Reich, who shaped the visual identity of United States silver coinage during this period. The reverse displays a heraldic eagle with a patriotic shield draped across its chest. In its talons, the eagle firmly grasps both an olive branch and a bundle of arrows, symbolizing a desire for peace alongside a readiness for defense. The legend surrounding the eagle reads STATES OF AMERICA, accompanied by the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM on a scroll above the bird, and the denomination marked as 50 C. at the bottom.