Most Capped Bust half dollars are worth about $70 to $150 in worn condition. Every one of them is about 90% silver.
Each coin holds about 0.387 troy ounces of pure silver — roughly $20.66 in melt at current prices — but survivors trade well above melt because two-century-old half dollars are genuinely scarce in any grade. The series ran from 1807 to 1839 in two edge styles, and its key, the 1815/2, starts near $900 worn. This guide covers both types, the dates that matter, and how to check your coin. Value ranges are approximate retail ranges, checked on November 4, 2026; individual coins vary with grade, strike, and certification.
Capped Bust Half Dollar Quick Facts
John Reich’s Capped Bust design was the workhorse half dollar of the early republic — the largest silver coin most Americans of the era ever handled. The first type carries its denomination on a lettered edge (“FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR”), a feature borrowed from European coinage. In 1836 the coin was modernized: a reeded edge replaced the lettering, the weight dropped slightly, the fineness rose to a clean 90%, and “50 CENTS” moved onto the reverse. The Seated Liberty design family replaced the Bust design across denominations starting in 1836–1839, and the half dollar line it began runs forward through the Barber half dollar to the Walking Liberty and Franklin issues.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Years struck | 1807–1839 |
| Lettered Edge type | 1807–1836: 13.48 g, 89.24% silver, denomination lettered on the edge |
| Reeded Edge type | 1836–1839: 13.36 g, 90% silver, “50 CENTS” on the reverse |
| Pure silver content | About 0.387 oz (both types) |
| Designer | John Reich |
| Mints | Philadelphia; New Orleans (O) in 1838–1839 |
Capped Bust Half Dollar Values by Date Group
| Date group | Typical worn value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common dates, 1820s–1830s | About $70–$150 | The bulk of what surfaces. Problem-free coins with full rims and readable dates sit at the top of the range; cleaned or damaged coins fall fast toward melt. |
| 1807–1814 early dates | About $100–$250 | The first decade is scarcer across the board, and the 1807 50/20 overdate adds a variety premium. |
| 1815/2 | About $900 and up | The series key: only 47,150 were struck, all overdated from an unused 1812 die. Even heavily worn examples are four-figure coins in better grades. |
| 1839-O | About $250 and up | The first branch-mint half dollar made for circulation, struck in New Orleans. Its proof-only 1838-O sibling is a famous rarity with only a handful known, worth six figures. |
| Uncirculated common dates | About $400 and up | Mint-state survivors are a small fraction of the mintage. Original, uncleaned surfaces matter more here than raw grade. |
The melt anchor under every row: about 0.387 oz of silver, and silver spot was $53.43 per troy ounce when checked on November 4, 2026, which puts melt at about $20.66. Data by Bullion Price Check, checked November 4, 2026. One caution unique to this series: specialists attribute these coins by Overton die-variety numbers, and a few varieties (the 1817/4 is the extreme case) are worth far more than the common version of the same date — a variety check is worth doing before any early date changes hands.
From Bust Halves to Junk Silver
Capped Bust halves are collected coin by coin, but the 90% silver half dollar format they established ran for another 125 years, and the later issues trade by the bag instead of by the date. If the goal is silver weight in classic halves rather than individual rarities, mixed 90% lots like our $1 face value 90% silver Walking Liberty half dollars and the AU-grade Walking Liberty halves are the direct descendants. Smaller early silver gets its own guide in our half dime value article.
Capped Bust Half Dollar FAQ
How much is a Capped Bust half dollar worth?
Most worn examples are worth about $70 to $150. Early dates bring $100–$250, the 1815/2 key starts near $900, and uncirculated common dates start around $400 — all well above the coin’s roughly $20.66 melt value.
How much silver is in a Capped Bust half dollar?
About 0.387 troy ounces of pure silver. The Lettered Edge coins weigh 13.48 grams at 89.24% fineness, and the Reeded Edge coins weigh 13.36 grams at 90% — the totals land in the same place.
What is the rarest Capped Bust half dollar?
The 1838-O is the rarest — a proof-only New Orleans striking with only a handful known. Among coins made for circulation, the 1815/2 is the key date, with a mintage of just 47,150.
Why does my half dollar have writing on the edge?
That is the Lettered Edge type, struck from 1807 to 1836. The edge reads “FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR” with stars and dots between the words, and it served as both the denomination and an anti-counterfeiting device before reeded edges took over in 1836.
Should a Capped Bust half be graded before selling?
For common worn dates, usually not — the grading fee eats the premium. For early dates, an 1815/2, an 1839-O, or anything that looks uncirculated, certification pays for itself because buyers discount raw coins in exactly the grades where fakes and cleaned coins hide.
Values are approximate retail ranges checked on November 4, 2026 and move with the silver price. This guide is educational, not an appraisal or an offer to buy or sell.