Numismatic

1824/4 Bust Half Dollar VG

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In 1824, the Philadelphia Mint produced a striking silver half dollar that carries a fascinating physical record of early American minting practices. This coin, belonging to the celebrated Capped Bust series, features a notable overdate where the final digit four was punched directly over an existing four in the date 1824. Struck in 0.8924 fine silver, the coin contains 0.3868 troy ounces of precious metal. The obverse of the coin displays a left-facing profile of Lady Liberty, her hair draped gently beneath a soft cap. The word LIBERTY is inscribed clearly above her, with the overdate year of 1824 positioned at the bottom. This design, created by John Reich, captures the artistic spirit of the early republic. On the reverse, a powerful eagle is depicted with a patriotic shield emblazoned across its chest. In its talons, the eagle firmly grasps an olive branch alongside a cluster of arrows, symbolizing a nation prepared for both peace and defense. Below this central image, the denomination is indicated by the inscription 50 C, representing its fifty-cent face value.