1820 Square-Base 2

The 1820 Square Base 2 is one of three cataloged date varieties for that year, the others being the Curl Base 2 with Large Letters and the Curl Base 2 with Small Letters. The distinction sits in how the numeral 2 in the date was punched into the working die. On the Square Base coins, the 2 ends in a flat, horizontal foot that meets the surface at a clean right angle. On the Curl Base coins, the bottom of the 2 rolls under into a small loop. The 1820 issue carried the highest mintage of the entire Capped Head Left half eagle run at 263,806 pieces across all three varieties combined, which made it the most heavily produced date in this short series. The Square Base 2 is generally the more frequently seen of the three, although all 1820s are scarce in absolute terms.

Variety attribution begins at the date. Inspect the base of the 2 under good lighting and modest magnification. A flat, square-cornered foot confirms this variety; any inward curl points to one of the other two 1820s. From there, confirm specifications: the coin should weigh 8.75 grams, measure approximately 25 millimeters in diameter, and test as 0.9167 fine gold alloyed with copper and silver. The edge is reeded. Capped Head Left half eagles were among the first U.S. gold coins to attract organized counterfeiting, and modern fakes still surface, so weight and diameter checks matter. Heavy cleaning, repairs at the high points, and tooling around the date are common condition problems that affect both grade and value.

For modern collectors, the 1820 Square Base 2 is the most accessible of the three 1820 varieties and a logical first acquisition for anyone building the Capped Head Left half eagle series by date. It still trades in the four to five figure range even in lower circulated grades, reflecting the small surviving population of the entire design type. Auction records and population reports from the major grading services give a useful baseline before committing to a purchase, and certified examples remove most of the authentication risk for newer buyers. For broader background on the design family, see the Capped Bust Half Eagle series history.