1817 Capped Bust Half Dollar: 7 Over 4

The 1817 Capped Bust Half Dollar with a "7 Over 4" variety is a notable coin in American numismatics, featuring a distinct overdate error. Here's some information about it:

Design: The Capped Bust Half Dollar design was created by John Reich, the second Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. The obverse (front) of the coin features a bust of Liberty facing left, wearing a Phrygian cap (also known as a liberty cap) inscribed with the word "LIBERTY."

The reverse (back) features a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings, holding an olive branch and arrows in its talons, with a shield on its breast. The eagle is surrounded by a wreath.

Variety: The 1817 Capped Bust Half Dollar is known for a distinct overdate variety where the underlying digit "4" in the date "1814" was punched with a "7," resulting in the appearance of "1817" on the coin. This overdate error is clearly visible to collectors and adds to the coin's collectibility and value.

Composition: The 1817 Capped Bust Half Dollar is composed of 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper, with a weight of approximately 13.48 grams and a diameter of 32.5 millimeters.

Mintage: The mintage of the 1817 Capped Bust Half Dollar with the "7 Over 4" overdate variety is relatively low compared to other issues of the series. Surviving examples are scarce and highly sought after by collectors.

Historical Context: The overdate error on the 1817 Capped Bust Half Dollar is believed to have occurred due to the Mint's practice of reusing dies from previous years to save on production costs. The error was likely the result of a die technician repunching the date on a leftover 1814 die to update it for use in 1817.

Collectibility: The 1817 Capped Bust Half Dollar with the "7 Over 4" overdate variety is highly collectible among numismatists due to its rarity, historical significance, and distinct error.

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