Lot 972
1815 Capped Bust Half Dollar. 5 over 2. EF-40. This coin has been cleaned and carefully retoned with deep blue and gold around the periphery and bright silver at the centers. Moderate handling marks and hairlines, as well as a minor rim ding at the point of the middle arrowhead. Struck from clashed dies, as are virtually all seen of this date.
Why were so few minted in 1815? The War of 1812 had resulted in an embargo by the British fleet of American ports, and the importation of copper planchets from Englands Boulton & Watt firm, had been halted, and the embargo continued through 1815. During a war, the uncertainties of the outcome cause people to hoard cash, especially gold and silver. Thus, very little gold or silver was given to the Philadelphia Mint for coining, and coinage came to a virtual halt. Further, the Mint had a terrible fire in January of 1816, which curtailed coinage until late 1817. Hence, 47,150 half dollars were produced in 1815, a fraction of prior years issues.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500.
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| Realized $2,070 |
