Numismatic

1827 Bust Half Dollar AU-53 NGC (Square Base 2)

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The year 1827 marked a notable chapter in early American coinage with the production of the Bust Half Dollar. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, these silver pieces do not carry a mint mark, which was the standard practice for the facility at the time. This specific coin contains 0.3868 ounces of silver, representing a purity of 0.8924. Out of a total mintage of 5,493,400 pieces, this specimen is identified as the Square Base 2 variety, a detail that captures the attention of keen observers studying the subtle variations of early United States minting. Designed by John Reich, the coin features a classic obverse with the left-facing profile of Lady Liberty wearing a cap, with the word LIBERTY clearly inscribed above her and the date 1827 positioned below. On the reverse, a detailed eagle is depicted with a shield draped across its chest, clutching an olive branch in one talon and a bundle of arrows in the other. This particular coin has been officially certified in About Uncirculated 53 (AU-53) condition, preserving the intricate details of Reich's early nineteenth-century engraving.