1815 5 over 2

The 1815/2 Capped Bust half dollar is the apex key of the entire 1807 to 1839 series and one of the most consequential rarities in early United States silver coinage. Only 47,150 pieces left the Philadelphia Mint, a figure so far below every other date in the series that the issue effectively defines what a true key looks like for half dollar collectors. The 47,150 pieces dated 1815 were delivered to the Treasury on January 10, 1816, just hours before the destructive Mint fire that halted further half dollar production, and the dies pressed into service that day were leftover working dies originally cut for 1812. Engravers overpunched the final digit, leaving the unmistakable 5 over 2 diagnostic in the date. No further half dollars were struck at Philadelphia until 1817, which means the 1815/2 is the lone representative of two calendar years and the only obtainable bridge between the 1814 and 1817 production cycles.

Strike quality varies considerably across surviving examples, with most coins showing the soft central detail typical of the John Reich Capped Bust design under heavy press wear. Authentic examples weigh 13.48 grams on a planchet measuring 32.5 millimeters in diameter, with the lettered edge inscription FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR rolled in before striking. The single die marriage is cataloged as Overton O-101, the only variety known for the date. Authenticators concentrate on the overdate itself, where the upper loop and base of the underlying 2 remain visible inside and below the 5. Genuine pieces display specific die cracks and clash marks documented in the Overton-Parsley reference, and the obverse shows a recut star pattern. Because the 1815/2 has been a target for cast and altered date counterfeits for over a century, weight verification and side-by-side comparison with photographed die markers are non-negotiable steps in attribution.

The collecting landscape for this issue is shaped by the small surviving population, with Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) population reports showing the issue is scarce in every grade and genuinely rare above Extremely Fine. Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers have offered notable Mint State examples, including pieces from advanced cabinets where realized prices climb well into six figures. Problem-free original surfaces command strong premiums over cleaned or repaired coins. For deeper background on the design transitions, lettered edge production, and the famous 1816 production gap, see the Capped Bust Half Dollar series history.