1809 50C Capped Bust Half Dollar, O-102a NGC AU55

An affordable option for an early date in the Capped Bust half dollar series. Attractive, original golden toning adorns both sides of this American classic. NGC has graded 75 as AU55 with 205 finer.

NGC Coin Explorer reports: "Both sides of this coin type were revised from those of 1807-08. The obverse changes are subtle, the most visible being a revision to the lay of Liberty's gown lines. On the reverse, however, the eagle has quite plainly lost its serpent-like neck, and its wings have been reshaped. The olive branch is likewise revised, with the lower two leaf pairs showing lesser separation of the leaves. Another distinctive feature of the 1809 half dollars is that some die marriages are known having edge devices unique to this date." Also, on the Overton-102a variety, the legend FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR is found with IIIII dividing the end of the writing from its beginning.

Handwritten copy of original document attesting to the hiring of John Reich as Assistant Engraver at the U.S. Mint in 1807. This copy was written by Miss Ely at the Philadelphia Mint in 1895-1896.