Numismatic

1828 Bust Half Dollar Good (Curled Base 2, No Knob)

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The year 1828 marked a distinctive chapter in early American coinage, captured beautifully in this Bust Half Dollar. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this silver piece is a notable variety from the era, distinguished by a specific engraving variation where the number 2 in the date features a curled base without a knob. This subtle detail makes the coin a compelling subject for study, highlighting the hand-crafted nature of coin production in the early nineteenth century. On the obverse, the profile of Lady Liberty faces right, her hair adorned with a cap inscribed with the word LIBERTY. Thirteen stars encircle the portrait, representing the original colonies, with the date 1828 anchored at the bottom. The reverse displays a classic American motif: an eagle with wings spread, a shield draped across its chest, clutching an olive branch and a bundle of arrows in its talons. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is draped above the eagle, while the face value is indicated at the very bottom as 50 C. Struck from 0.8924 fine silver, this coin contains 0.3868 troy ounces of precious metal. Surviving in a circulated Good condition, the wear on its surfaces tells a story of active commerce during the Pre-1933 era of United States currency. Each soft contour and smoothed detail on this half dollar connects modern observers directly to the daily transactions of the late 1820s.