1833 Capped Bust Half Dollar. O-108. Rarity-1. MS-66+ (PCGS). CAC. A splendid Gem, well struck with superb surfaces. The toning is an attractive mixture of electric blue, rose, golden-brown and a few other hues, all creating a memorable palette. Striking detail is likewise of the highest order, with Libertys hair details, the start points, the eagles feathers, the band and motto, etc., all being exceptionally well defined for the type. Highly lustrous with a stunning frosty texture that is as smooth as when the coin emerged from the dies nearly 200 years ago.<p>With a mintage of just over 5.2 million pieces, the 1833 Capped Bust half dollar is one of the more available issues of the series. This mintage represented the second year to employ the new obverse master die that had been crafted by chief engraver William Kneass in 1832, showcasing Liberty in a slightly bolder relief with finer hair curls. This particular style was relatively short-lived, as Kneass once again redesigned the obverse master hub halfway through the 1834 production year.<p>Thirteen obverse dies and fourteen reverse dies combined to allow for fifteen known die marriages of 1833 Capped Bust half dollars. A historically acknowledged, though enigmatic, population of 1833-dated Proof specimens has been designated O-116, though those pieces bear little relevance to the circulation-strike coins of the same date.<p>The Overton 108 die pairing, as represented by the present jewel, is unremarkable in scarcity and readily available in Mint State. However, even this Rarity-1 variety proves to be exceptionally elusive in true Gem preservation. Having long been recognized as a significant piece, the offered coin is ranked CC#2 for the 1833 O-108 dies in the Autumn 2022 revision to Stephen J. Herrmans <em>Auction & Mail Bid Prices Realized for Bust Half Dollars: 1794-1839</em>. PCGS# 39896. NGC ID: 24FX. PCGS Population (all die marriages of the issues): 1; 3 finer (MS-68 finest).<p>CAC Population: 1; 2. From the George Schwenk Collection. Earlier ex Heritages Denver ANA Signature Sale, August 1996, lot 7240; our (Bowers and Merenas) sale of the Leonard J. Torok, M.D. Collection, September 1998, lot 2113; Kaufman Collection; Heritages sale of the Joseph C. Thomas Collection, April-May 2009 CSNS Signature Auction, lot 2447; Legend Rare Coin Auctions sale of the Perfection Collection of Capped Bust Half Dollars, September 2022 Regency Auction 54, lot 147.
