Numismatic

1824 Bust Half Dollar Fine

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This silver half dollar from 1824 offers a window into early American coinage, minted at the Philadelphia facility during the nation's formative decades. Struck in 0.8924 fine silver, the coin contains 0.3868 troy ounces of precious metal. It represents the Capped Bust series, a classic era of United States currency design that circulated widely in the early nineteenth century. The obverse displays a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty, her hair draped beneath a cap inscribed with the word LIBERTY. Thirteen stars encircle the bust, with the date 1824 positioned clearly at the bottom. This depiction was created by engraver John Reich, who brought a distinct artistic style to the young nation's coinage. On the reverse, an American eagle is depicted with wings spread, holding a bundle of arrows and an olive branch in its talons to symbolize strength and peace. A shield is emblazoned across the eagle's chest, and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is displayed on a scroll above. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination 50 C. surround the central design, completing this historic fifty-cent piece.