U.S. COIN REFERENCE · Capped Bust half dime
Capped Bust half dimes: the small coin marked 5C
The reverse value helps separate this design from the related dime.
By SalarsNet · Reviewed October 5, 2026
Follow the value as well as the portrait
The 1829–1837 half dime shows capped Liberty and a shielded eagle, with 5C on the reverse. Date size and the size of 5C create varieties, including combinations in 1835. The small denomination marking is useful evidence when a seller photographs a coin without a scale.
Type references: PCGS Capped Bust Half Dime ↗
The late-date attribution
Photograph the date, 5C, and eagle at the same orientation as the reference. A large-date label should explain the whole numeral group, not a single worn digit. Inspect hair, cap, eagle breast, and fields for wear and hairlines. Keep a proof claim separate until the strike’s expected detail and surfaces support it.
Type references: PCGS Capped Bust Half Dime ↗
A type coin versus a rare die pair
The dates offer an accessible starting point for a type collection, while individual die varieties and exceptional preservation can be more elusive. Use the exact date and confirmed size combination for comparisons. A named die variety does not automatically imply the rarity of its scarcest cousin.
Type references: PCGS Capped Bust Half Dime ↗
Selected reviewed issue records
These catalog standards describe the named issue, not a measured specimen. The selected records below do not cover every date, mint, strike, or die variety. Reported production is labeled separately from established mintage. Unknown standards and mintage remain visible; survival estimates and certified populations are separate research questions.
No issue-level specification or mintage records are published for this category yet. Verify the exact date, mint, strike, metal, and subtype in its reference before using a numerical standard.
References and review
Reference reviewed October 5, 2026. Historical facts and catalog standards need to match the exact issue; price comparisons should be researched at the time of valuation.