Numismatic

1828 Bust Half Dollar AU (Sq Base 2, Lg 8's)

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In the early decades of United States coinage, the Philadelphia Mint produced silver half dollars that display fascinating hand-crafted variations. This 1828 silver coin, struck with a purity of 0.8924 silver (containing 0.3868 troy ounces of the precious metal), belongs to the celebrated Capped Bust series. It is a remarkable specimen categorized as the Square Base 2, Large 8s variety, which is distinguished by the specific shape of the numbers in its date. The obverse of this fifty-cent piece presents a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty, her hair draped beneath a cap inscribed with her name. Thirteen stars flank her image, representing the original colonies. On the reverse, a heraldic eagle clutches an olive branch and arrows in its talons, with a shield placed over its chest. Above the eagle, a scroll displays the national motto, while the face value of fifty cents is indicated at the bottom of the design as 50 C. Preserved in Almost Uncirculated condition, this coin offers a clear window into early American minting processes. Because dies were prepared individually by hand, minor differences in the size and style of the digits created distinct varieties that make each surviving piece a unique subject of study.