Years
Designer
John Reich / Christian Gobrecht
Composition
89.24% silver, 10.76% copper
Diameter
32.5 mm
Mass
13.48 g
Thickness
2.1 mm
Edge
Lettered to 1836; reeded 1836–39
Mints
Philadelphia
Metal
Silver
Design
Lettered-edge (1807–36) and reeded-edge (1836–39) types. Overton’s die marriages make this the most die-studied U.S. series after large cents.
History
The half dollar was the workhorse silver coin of the early republic — dollars were not struck 1804–37. Lettered-edge bust halves are die-variety heaven. 1815/2 is the key date; 1836 reeded-edge is a one-year Gobrecht transition.
Key dates
Varieties
1815-P · 1815/2
overdate · key
1836-P · 1836 reeded edge
transitional · key
34 issues