1817 Capped Bust Half Dollar

The Capped Bust Half Dollar series began in 1807 to replace the Draped Bust design. Mint Director Robert Patterson hired German immigrant John Reich to redesign the coinage. Reich earned a salary of $600 a year for his work as an assistant engraver. He depicted Liberty wearing a cloth cap, a symbol of freedom from the French Revolution. This design gave the coins a more uniform look and improved the strike quality across the series. The series lasted until 1839. In 1836, the Mint transitioned from screw presses to steam-powered coining presses. This shift forced a change in the manufacturing process and design specifications. The Mint also removed the '50 CENTS' denomination from the reverse and moved it to the obverse as '50 C.' in 1837. Christian Gobrecht updated the design in 1839, marking the end of the Capped Bust era before the introduction of the Seated Liberty design.

Focus on finding common dates like 1834, 1835, or 1836 to start your collection. These years saw high production numbers and offer the best entry point for new collectors. Look for coins with original, problem-free surfaces, as many pieces show signs of harsh cleaning or deep scratches. Avoid coins with smoothed-over fields or unnatural toning. Check the edges for file marks, which often indicate counterfeit attempts or attempts to remove silver from the coin. Buy coins in Very Good to Fine condition to get the most value for your money.

This series includes key dates — check individual coin pages for rarity details.