1813 Capped Bust Half Dollar. O-104. Rarity-4. MS-64 (PCGS). CAC.

1813 Capped Bust Half Dollar. O-104. Rarity-4. MS-64 (PCGS). CAC.，Offered is a wonderfully original, beautifully toned half dollar that will hold tremendous appeal for advanced Capped Bust half dollar variety enthusiasts. Bold and vivid patina adorns the right third to half of each side, giving way to warmer shades toward the left borders. The strike is typical of this challenging variety that was coined from worn dies. Both sides have little to no denticulation around the borders and the obverse stars are drawn toward the border. Central detail is appreciably sharper, however, and the highly lustrous surfaces are nice for the assigned grade.<p>The Capped Bust half dollar is the work of John Reich, a German-born engraver who came to the United States to escape a Europe engulfed in the Napoleonic Wars. After the turn of the century he did contract work for the Mint. Joining the staff full-time at the United States Mint in 1807 as assistant engraver to Robert Scot at the salary of $600 per year, Reichs first official task was to redesign the gold and silver denominations. The most popular denominations with bullion depositors at that time, the half eagle and half dollar were first to receive Reichs attention and the new Capped Bust half dollars were struck the same year that he joined the Mint.<p><p>Generally speaking, the most eagerly sought Capped Bust half dollars fall into one of four categories: the early dates (pre-1820; the rare die varieties; the overdates; and other visually interesting varieties such as the 1807 Bearded Goddess and the 1814 E/A in STATES. The 1813 is in the first category, and this coin is one of the most significant examples of the date that we have ever offered. The finest example of the O-104 die marriage listed in the autumn 2017 revision to Stephen J. Herrmans <em>Auction & Mail Bid Prices Realized for Bust Half Dollars: 1794-1839</em> is the third edition Overton plate coin that has since been certified MS-63 by NGC and appeared in Sheridan Downeys Mail Bid Auction #09 of July 1993. Finer by a single grading point, the near-Gem offered here has been off the market since 1970 and, upon its return to auction as part of the Vanderbilt Collection, supplants the Overton plate coin as Condition Census #1 for the variety. This will be a find for the early half dollar variety specialist.，From the A.J. Vanderbilt Collection. Earlier from our (Stacks) sale of the Alto Collection, December 1970, lot 821. Lot tag included.，