Coin Specifications

Capped Bust Half Dollars represented the third design for the denomination, following the short lived Flowing Hair and Draped Bust designs. The present series was minted for a significantly longer duration from 1807 to 1839 and in generally higher numbers. Many coins of the series remain available for collectors in circulated condition, although gem examples and certain varieties can be extremely rare.

John Reich was the designer of the Capped Bust Half Dollar, which features a rendition of Liberty facing left. She wears a cap bearing the word “Liberty” with locks of curled hair falling to shoulder length. Thirteen stars surround with the date below. The reverse of the coin features an eagle with wings outstretched and talons grasping a bundle of arrows and an olive branch. A scroll contains the inscription “E Pluribus Unum”, the words “United States of America” and the denomination surround. The design was later modified by Christian Gobrecht for the final years of the series.

Specifications for the series were initially 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper with a weight of 13.48 grams and diameter of 32.5 mm. The edge was lettered with the denomination. With the change to a reeded edge in 1836, the specifications were changed to 90% silver and 10% copper with a weight of 13.36 grams and diameter of 30 mm. Coins were produced at the Philadelphia Mint and the New Orleans Mint in the last year of the series.

Capped Bust Half Dollar Coin Specifications

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The American Silver Eagle was introduced in 1986 as the official silver bullion coin of the United States. It has become popular worldwide with precious metals investors as well as collectors. Each coin contains one ounce of .999 fine silver. The obverse design of the coins is taken from Adolph A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty Half Dollar and the reverse of the coins features a heraldic eagle designed by John Mercanti.

The US Mint issues the bullion version of the coin to a network of authorized purchasers based on the spot price of silver plus a fixed mark up. Traditionally, collectible versions of the coin have also been made available for purchase directly from the Mint. From 1986 to 2008, proof Silver Eagles were produced and sold in quantity. In recent years, the heavy demand for bullion coins has resulted in a suspension of collector offerings.

During the course of the series and across bullion and collector versions, American Silver Eagles have been produced at the West Point, San Francisco, and Philadelphia Mint facilities. Coins have been produced in bullion version, collectible proof, collectible uncirculated, and reverse proof.

Morgan Dollar Coin Specifications

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The first half dollars produced in America were authorized by the Act of April 2, 1792. The design for the Flowing Hair Half Dollar was the same as the half dimes and silver dollars issued in the first year. Although the Flowing Hair Silver Dollars usually get most of the attention, the half dollar denomination is important and rare in its own right.

The coins were minted for only two years from 1794 to 1795. As specified by the Act, the composition was 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper. The weight of the coins is 13.48 grams, although variance is possible. In the early days of the mint, some overweight planchets were filed and underweight planchets could be plugged. As a result, some surviving Flowing Hair Half Dollars show adjustment marks or silver plugs, although these are not usually detrimental to the collectible value of this important series.

Flowing Hair Half Dollar Coin Specifications

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The double eagle was a new gold denomination created by the Coinage Act of 1849. The coins would carry a value of $20, the highest for a U.S. coin at the time and double the value of the eagle, which was created by the Coinage Act of 1792. The higher denomination was desired to strike the massive amounts of gold discovered in California into coin.

The Liberty Gold Double Eagle was designed by James B. Longacre. The new design was first struck in 1849 (a unique pattern coin) and produced for circulation starting in 1850. The obverse features the head of Liberty facing left with thirteen stars surrounding. The reverse features a modified version of the heraldic eagle with two scrolls. A circle of thirteen stars appears above with inscriptions around the entire design.

The coins were struck in 90% gold and 10% copper. Each coin contains .96750 ounces of pure gold. During the course of the series, which last more than half a century, coins were struck at Philadelphia, Carson City, Denver, New Orleans, and San Francisco.

Liberty Head Double Eagle Coin Specifications

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In 1916, new designs were introduced for the dime, quarter, and half dollar. The Mercury Dime replaced the previous Barber Dimes series, which had run from 1892 to 1916. The new coin was designed by Adolph A. Weinman, who had also provided the new half dollar design.

The Mercury Dime featured a portrait of Liberty wearing a winged cap. This image was mistaken for the Roman god of trade, profit, and commerce, who the coin is commonly named for. The reverse of the coin included a bundle of rods and an axe tied together, known as fasces. The coins carried the same composition and specifications as the prior series, but mintage only took place at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.

The design would be replaced after 1945 with an image to memorialize the recently passed Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Mercury Dime Coin Specifications

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