Capped Head to Left, Large Diameter (1813-1829)

The Capped Head to Left, Large Diameter type, issued from 1813 to 1829, contains some of the greatest rarities in American numismatics—coins such as the 1815 half eagle, the 1822 (three known), the 1825/4 (two known), and the 1829 Large Date. Most of the dates in this series have low mintages, usually below 50,000 coins. The 1820 half eagle has the highest mintage (263,806 coins), and the 1815 has the lowest (635 coins). Some dates, such as 1819, have a reasonably high mintage {51,723 coins) but remain extremely rare today. The rarity of many of the dates cannot be attributed to attrition alone-clearly, vast majorities of many dates were destroyed en masse.

Nevertheless, the collector of average means still has many opportunities to own this type. The most affordable dates include 1813, 1814, 1818, and 1820. Even the 1823 half eagle, with a mintage of only 14,485 pieces, is within reach of most collectors. Several interesting varieties exist to entice the collector. Overdates include the 1814/3, the 1825/1, the 1825/4, and the 1828/7. In 1818, one variety includes STATES OF jammed together as one word; another 1818 variety shows the denomination as 5D over 50 (a similar situation occurs in 1819). In 1820, the 2 of the date is found with either a curved base or a flat, straight base.

The Philadelphia Mint was the sole producer of coins of this type. A tiny number of Proof examples were produced, all of which are extremely valuable rarities. One of the finest Proof examples known to the author is the superb 1828 in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.

Designed by John Reich. The Capped Head design was only used on half eagles beginning in 1813 and the quarter eagle in 1821. While it resembles the head of Liberty on the Classic Head half cents (1809-1836), the bust and head are shaped differently. The reverse is a slightly modified version of the pre¬ceding. Edge: reeded. Standards: weight, 8.75 grams; composition, 91.67°/o gold/8.33% silver and copper; diameter, 25 mm (reduced to 23.8 mm in 1829).