1827 27 over 6

The 1827 Capped Bust Half Dollar with the 27-over-6 overdate represents one of the most documented die corrections in the early United States half dollar series. Mint engravers repunched a fresh 7 directly over the existing 6 in a die that had been prepared during the previous calendar year, leaving the lower curl of the underlying 6 visible inside the loop of the 7 on every coin struck from that working die. This recycling practice was routine at the Philadelphia Mint during the 1820s, when die steel was expensive and any sound die that had not yet developed cracks was considered worth updating rather than scrapping. The overdate was cataloged by Al Overton as Overton-101 and has remained a foundation piece in any serious early-half-dollar collection since the publication of his variety reference.

John Reich designed the Capped Bust Half Dollar in 1807, and the 1827 issues continue the standard specifications of 89.24 percent silver alloy, a weight of 13.48 grams, a diameter of 32.5 millimeters, and a lettered edge reading FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR. The 27-over-6 diagnostic appears most clearly on coins that retain enough detail in the digits, where the upper loop of the underlying 6 sits within the open space of the 7 and the lower curl protrudes below the baseline. Authentication requires confirming the Overton attribution through the position of the date, the alignment of the stars, and the placement of the period after the denomination on the reverse. Counterfeits and altered dates exist, so weight verification and edge inscription checks are routine for any coin sold as the overdate variety.

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) population reports show the 27-over-6 is collected enthusiastically in circulated grades from Good through Extremely Fine, with mint state survivors being legitimately scarce. Auction records at Heritage Auctions show that examples grading About Uncirculated and finer often bring multiples of common-date 1827 prices. Collectors who pursue the full Overton catalog of Capped Bust varieties treat this overdate as a foundational acquisition. For broader context on the design history, die production methods, and how this issue connects to other early federal silver, read the Capped Bust Half Dollar series history.