1809 CAPPED BUST 50C MS65+

GEM SURFACES ENHANCED WITH LIGHT BLUE/ROSE PATINA. O-103. CAC. This early Bust Half Dollar has an estimated mintage of 1,405,810 pieces. The Philadelphia Mint required eight obverse and 12 reverse dies in 15 marriages to produce this issue. The 1809 is perhaps most popular because of the various different edge varieties found on surviving examples. While many examples have the normal lettered edge of the Capped Bust Half Dollar series, some pieces have the devices XXX or III engraved between the words DOLLAR and FIFTY. It seems as though Mint personnel were experimenting with different edge styles for the Half Dollar in 1809, but they ultimately abandoned the ornate devices and decided to stick with the traditional lettered edge.