Numismatic

1836 Bust Half Dollar Fine (Lettered Edge)

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The year 1836 marked a fascinating era for United States coinage, captured beautifully in this silver half dollar. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this fifty-cent piece belongs to the beloved Capped Bust series. Crafted from 0.8924 fine silver, the coin contains 0.3868 troy ounces of precious metal, representing the standard circulating currency of the pre-1933 era. Designed by John Reich, the obverse features a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty. Her hair is draped in a cap, secured by a band inscribed with the word LIBERTY, while the date 1836 is positioned directly below the bust. This classic depiction of Liberty was a staple of early American silver coinage, symbolizing the young nation's ideals. The reverse displays a heraldic eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows in its talons, with a shield placed over its chest. Above the eagle, a scroll bears the national motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the central design, while the denomination is indicated at the bottom as 50 C. This specific coin has survived in Fine condition, showing honest wear from its time in nineteenth-century commerce while retaining its core design elements.