Numismatic

1829/7 Bust Half Dollar Fine

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The 1829 Capped Bust half dollar offers a fascinating window into early American minting practices, particularly through its notable overdate variety where the final digit of the year was punched over a 7. Struck in 0.8924 fine silver at the Philadelphia Mint, this coin contains 0.3868 troy ounces of precious metal. Surviving today in Fine condition, it carries the honest wear of a piece that circulated extensively during the early decades of the United States. The obverse presents a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty, her hair flowing beneath a draped Phrygian cap. A headband across her brow displays the word LIBERTY, while the date 1829 is positioned below the bust. This design, created by John Reich, captures the neoclassical aesthetic that defined the nation's early coinage. On the reverse, a heraldic eagle stands with a patriotic shield draped across its chest. In its talons, the eagle grasps both an olive branch of peace and a cluster of arrows, representing strength. Above the eagle, a scroll bears the national motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, while the surrounding inscription reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The denomination is indicated at the bottom as 50 C.