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 Replies: 24 / Views: 865 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11168 Posts |
Some of you may have deduced that I am putting together a date set of Capped Bust half dollars. This was one of the first series that fell in love with when I was a young collector over 35 years ago, The series is comprised of 32 dates. There are only 2 mintmarked coins, the 1838-O and the 1839-O. That makes the complete set 34 coins. In addition there are 2 overlapping major varieties in 1836, the lettered edge variety with the older design and the reeded edge variety which has a low mintage of 1,200+ coins and is a key date. That brings the total to 35 coins for the complete set. But the 1838-O Capped Bust half dollar is a famous rarity with a colorful history. The New Orleans Mint was to be built alongside the Charlotte and Dahlonega Mints when Congress passed the Mint Act of 1835. The New Orleans Mint opened in May of 1838 by minting 30 dimes. A few half dollars were also minted, thought to be no more than 20. Fewer than a dozen survive. There was a yellow fever outbreak in the Summer of 1838 at the New Orleans Mint which caused deaths and a fear that the disease might spread. Currently, as I start this thread, I have gathered 27 of the 35 dates/mintmarks. Of the 8 remaining coins, the 1814, 1828, 1837, 1839 and 1839-O are relatively easy to acquire, whereas the 1815/2, 1836 and 1838-O are key dates. Most coins I buy are not slabbed. This collection reflects my mistakes, my failures, as well as my interest in this series, the beauty that shines through the art, sensibilities and tough times reflected in the evolution and maturation of this design (run-on sentence much?). Imperfect but I love it.  #1 - 1807 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-112 R1 Large Stars 50/20 #10  #2 - 1808 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-104 R2  #3 - 1809 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-103 R1  #4 - 1810 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-102 R1  #5 - 1811 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-105 R4  #6 - 1812 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-110 R1 PCGS AU58  #7 - 1813 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-108 R3 NGC AU55  #8 - 1814 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-109 R2  #9 - 1815/2 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-101a R3  #10 - 1817 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-109 R2  #11 - 1818 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-109 R1  #12 - 1819 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-112 R3  #13 - 1820 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-108 R2  #14 - 1821 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-103a R4  #15 - 1822 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-113 R3  #16 - 1823 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-105 R1 PCGS AU58  #17 - 1824 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-1XX RX  #18 - 1825 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-112 R2  #19 - 1826 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-1XX RX  #20 - 1827 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-1XX RX  #21 - 1828 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-112 R3  #22 - 1829 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-1XX RX  #23 - 1830 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-1XX RX  #24 - 1831 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-115 R4  #25 - 1832 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-113a R3  #26 - 1833 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-1XX RX NGC MS62  #27 - 1834 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-111 R1 PCI AU50  #28 - 1835 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-1XX RX  #29 - 1836 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Overton-112 R1  #30 - 1836 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Reeded Edge#31 - 1837 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Reeded Edge  #32 - 1838 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Reeded Edge  #33 - 1838-O 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Reeded Edge#34 - 1839 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Reeded Edge  #35 - 1839-O 50c Capped Bust half dollar - Reeded Edge IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.comEdited by numismatic student
10/02/2025 12:39 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7080 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
14142 Posts |
Fantastic collection of amazing coins. Best of wishes in pursuing the missing ones.
Thank you for sharing them with us.
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.artToo many hobbies .... too much work .... not enough time. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1220 Posts |
Great collection, and great photos. It'd take me a year to post this many pictures. Thanks for sharing!
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Moderator
United States
33739 Posts |
Some great coins here @ns. One of my favorite design aspects of these is the number 2 with the extra curl.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
8820 Posts |
Congrats on your collection, very nice.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1329 Posts |
very nice collection--i am missing the 15/2,36 reeded,38O and 39O--bust halves are cool--thanks for sharing--
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Moderator
United States
171008 Posts |
Looking good!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2093 Posts |
Thank you for the photos and especially for your commentary about your collection! It's always nice to know why someone chooses a certain type to collect.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
63514 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
394 Posts |
I have been interested in this series as well. I think I have accumulated 10 or 12 mostly vf/ef.
You have a lot of gorgeous higher grade coins.
I am inspired to try to complete a date set as well.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
11168 Posts |
Thank you for your kind comments. @Pmint1 hope to see your set come together in the forum.
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11168 Posts |
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3202 Posts |
Quote:
This collection reflects my mistakes, my failures, as well as my interest in this series, the beauty that shines through the art, sensibilities and tough times reflected in the evolution and maturation of this design (run-on sentence much?). Imperfect but I love it. You captured the heart of collecting in these words. Well said.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11168 Posts |
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11168 Posts |
Quote:
Well said. Thank you for your always encouraging words @fortcollins.
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Replies: 24 / Views: 865 |
Posted 10/02/2025 12:31 am
