Capped Bust Half Dollars Silver Numismatic Coins

The Capped Bust Half Dollar was introduced in 1807 as the third series for the denomination. Production for the half dollar series would be relatively high, with mintages usually extending into the millions. During this time period, silver dollars were not produced, making the half dollar the coin of choice for silver depositors. For nearly every issue of the series, a number of major varieties exist, which carry different degrees of rarity. These die varieties are heavily collected and include overdates, numbers and lettering differences, and star sizes.

The designer of the Capped Bust Half Dollar was John Reich, a German who came to the United States in the early 19th century. He had been recommended by President Thomas Jefferson for the position of Assistant Engraver in 1801, however he would not take the position until 1807.

Christian Gobrecht performed design changes in 1836 to accommodate the introduction of steam powered presses.