U.S. COIN REFERENCE · Capped Bust half dollar
Capped Bust halves: lettered and reeded edges
The new edge in 1836 marks a change that a portrait photograph can miss.
By SalarsNet · Reviewed October 5, 2026
Three principal formats
The lettered-edge half spans 1807–1836. Reeded-edge pieces begin in 1836, with 50 CENTS on the reverse; HALF DOL. follows in 1838–1839. A measured diameter and edge view help establish the format. The transition changes the appropriate die reference as well as the specification.
Type references: PCGS Capped Bust Half Dollar ↗
Attribute both sides
Lettered-edge halves are widely collected by Overton die pairs. Date shapes, stars, and reverse lettering can contribute to an attribution. The 1838-O and 1839-O mintmark appears on the obverse above the date, so the reverse alone cannot settle the mint. Photograph it clearly before comparing a branch-mint candidate.
Type references: PCGS Capped Bust Half Dollar ↗
Wear, contact, and prooflike surfaces
Inspect cap, hair, eagle breast, wings, and fields. Light rubbing and contact marks need separate descriptions, while weak striking can persist on unworn coins. A rare 1838-O or early reeded-edge candidate needs authentication and precise strike attribution. Choose sales of the identified format and actual surfaces.
Type references: PCGS Capped Bust Half Dollar ↗
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.
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