1818

The 1818 Capped Bust half dollar represents the first full production year following the 1815 to 1817 disruption at the Philadelphia Mint, and with a mintage of 1,960,322 pieces, the date marks the return to substantial half dollar output. The Capped Bust design by John Reich continued unchanged, featuring the draped bust of Liberty wearing the soft cap on the obverse and the heraldic eagle clutching arrows and an olive branch on the reverse. Multiple die marriages are known for 1818, reflecting the high demand that drove the Mint to prepare a large working die inventory. The most attainable date varieties make 1818 a workhorse year for type collectors and a productive hunting ground for Overton specialists pursuing die state progression studies.

Specifications match the rest of the series with 89.24 percent silver content, 13.48 grams of weight, and a 32.5 millimeter diameter. The lettered edge carries the FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR inscription applied through the Castaing edge-lettering machine before the planchet entered the coining press. Strike quality on 1818 varies considerably across die marriages, with some pairings showing strong central detail on Liberty's hair and the eagle's feathers while others display the softer strikes typical of late die state production. Authentication relies on weight verification, Overton attribution using the Overton-Parsley reference, and confirmation of specific die markers including crack patterns and clash marks. Counterfeits of the regular 1818 date are uncommon because mintage numbers are high enough to make originals affordable, but cleaned or harshly dipped pieces appear regularly in the market.

The collecting landscape for 1818 favors specialists pursuing die varieties and type collectors building a representative Capped Bust example. Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) certified populations are robust in circulated grades, with About Uncirculated examples available at reasonable cost and Mint State pieces scarce but obtainable. Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers handle thousands of 1818 examples each year across all grades. Original gray patina with clean surfaces commands strong premiums over dipped pieces, and well-struck Overton marriages bring meaningful premiums over softer strikes. Read the Capped Bust Half Dollar series history.