The Capped Bust Half Dollar was designed by John Reich. A similar design was used on most other circulating silver coinage for the next several decades, providing a uniform appearance. The mintages for this denomination were relatively high as the half dollar had become a staple within the currency system, since silver dollars ceased being produced in 1804.
The design features Liberty, facing left with curled hair contained under a cap. There are seven stars in front with six stars in back, and the date in curved fashion below. The cap contains the word “LIBERTY”. On the reverse of the coin is a bald eagle with a shield at its chest and a bundle of arrows and olive branch in its claws. A scroll above reads “E PLURIBUS UNUM” with additional inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and the denomination, which would appear alternatively as “50 C.”, “FIFTY CENTS”, or “HALF DOL.” In an updated version of the design the scroll would also be removed.
For the Capped Bust Half Dollars:
- The coins would be produced from the years 1807 to 1839 inclusive. The coins struck from 1807 to 1836 would feature a lettered edge, indicating the denomination. The coins struck from 1836 to the end of the series would feature a modified design and a reeded edge.
- All coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with the exception of the last year of the series 1839, when the New Orleans Mint struck 178,976 pieces for circulation. The year earlier they struck 20 pieces in proof format.
- Total mintage across all circulation strike issues is 91,088,096.
- The lowest mintage of the series is the 1836 Reeded Edge at 1,200 pieces.
- The highest mintage of the series is the 1836 Lettered Edge at 6,545,000.
Capped Bust Half Dollar Mintages
| Issue | Mintage |
|---|---|
| 1807 | 750,500 |
| 1808 | 1,368,600 |
| 1809 | 1,405,810 |
| 1810 | 1,276,276 |
| 1811 | 1,203,644 |
| 1812 | 1,628,059 |
| 1813 | 1,241,903 |
| 1814 | 1,039,075 |
| 1815 | 47,150 |
| 1817 | 1,215,567 |
| 1818 | 1,960,322 |
| 1819 | 2,208,000 |
| 1820 | 751,122 |
| 1821 | 1,305,797 |
| 1822 | 1,559,573 |
| 1823 | 1,694,200 |
| 1824 | 3,504,954 |
| 1825 | 2,943,166 |
| 1826 | 4,004,180 |
| 1827 | 5,493,400 |
| 1828 | 3,075,200 |
| 1829 | 3,712,156 |
| 1830 | 4,764,800 |
| 1831 | 5,873,660 |
| 1832 | 4,797,000 |
| 1833 | 5,206,000 |
| 1834 | 6,412,004 |
| 1835 | 5,352,006 |
| 1836, Lettered Edge | 6,545,000 |
| 1836, Reeded Edge | 1,200 |
| 1837 | 3,629,820 |
| 1838 | 3,546,000 |
| 1839 | 1,392,976 |
| 1839-O | 178,976 |
Source: CappedBustHalfDollar.org
