Numismatic

1828 Bust Half Dollar XF (Sq 2, Sm 8's, Lg Ltrs)

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This silver half dollar from 1828 offers a window into early United States coinage, minted in Philadelphia during the nation's formative decades. Struck with a silver purity of 0.8924, this fifty-cent piece contains 0.3868 troy ounces of precious metal. It represents a fascinating era of hand-crafted dies, where subtle variations in the size of the numbers and letters created distinct varieties that intrigue researchers and collectors today. The obverse of the coin displays a classic left-facing profile of Lady Liberty, her hair draped gently under a cap inscribed with the word LIBERTY. Thirteen stars encircle her image, symbolizing the original colonies, with the year 1828 anchored firmly at the bottom. The design is credited to John Reich, who brought a distinct artistic sensibility to the early Mint. On the reverse, a detailed eagle dominates the center, its chest protected by a striped shield. In its talons, the eagle grasps both an olive branch of peace and a bundle of arrows, representing the dual nature of American resolve. Above the eagle, a scroll displays the national motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM, while the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the denomination of fifty cents encircle the rim.