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1837 Capped Bust, Small 5C
| Weight | 1.35 g |
| Diameter | 15.5 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 871,000 Combined mintage for all 1837 Capped Bust varieties |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | William Kneass |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-1033 |
Collection
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Other recorded varieties for 1837:
- 1837 Capped Bust, Large 5C · Capped Bust, Large 5C
External references
The 1837 Capped Bust, Small 5C pairs the smaller denomination punches with the Capped Bust obverse in the final months of the design's production. The variety is less common than the Large 5C version and represents a smaller subset of the 1837 Capped Bust output before the transition to Seated Liberty.
Identifying the variety requires examining the 5C on the reverse and comparing against reference images. The Small 5C is visibly more compact than the Large 5C, a distinction that carries through from the 1835 and 1836 Small 5C varieties. A collector pursuing a complete 1837 Capped Bust half dime set needs both Large 5C and Small 5C varieties, and the Small 5C is typically the scarcer acquisition.
With the Seated Liberty design beginning production later in 1837, the Capped Bust Small 5C represents some of the final coins struck with William Kneass's adaptation of John Reich's Capped Bust template. Christian Gobrecht's new design would sweep through American silver coinage over the next few years, and the Capped Bust half dime would not return.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $102 | $117 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $122 | $141 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $184 | $210 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $225 | $260 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $285 | $330 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $345 | $395 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $1,325 | $1,525 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $2,915 | $3,085 |
How much is a 1837 Capped Bust, Small 5C Capped Bust Half Dime worth?
How many 1837 Capped Bust, Small 5C Capped Bust Half Dimes were minted?
What is a 1837 Capped Bust, Small 5C Capped Bust Half Dime made of?
What is the melt value of a 1837 Capped Bust, Small 5C Capped Bust Half Dime?
Is the 1837 Capped Bust, Small 5C Capped Bust Half Dime a key date?
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