“Because mintages were so high for this series, you can find many different die varieties. Collectors who pursue this avenue of collecting are known as bust half nuts, and they belong to the Bust Half Nut Club!” — Ron Guth, Coin Collecting for Dummies, 2001 A superb example of an uncommon die marriage, with exceptional luster gracing both sides, this piece is pleasantly toned in familiar shades of pale green, soft rose, and gold. Some deeper gold and amber tones are found among peripheral design elements. The stars all have their centers, despite being drawn to the rim, and central devices are likewise well defined. Some light marks are present on Liberty’s portrait, and a shallow abrasion is noted in the upper left obverse field between star 5 and bridge of Liberty’s nose. The dies have clashed, though little evidence is found on the obverse, just ill-defined depressions in front of Liberty’s chin and below her bust where clash marks were polished away on the die face. The reverse shows sharper clash marks, most evident under the wings, atop the wing at left, and above the eagle’s head. Nearly five and a half million half dollars were struck in 1827. The first delivery of freshly struck half dollars was given to the treasurer of the Mint on January 6, 1827, and further batches were delivered several times a month until December 29 of that year. While other years of this design type saw higher mintages, (namely 1831, 1834, 1835, and 1836), no other year would see so many die combinations put into production. One of the rarest of all Capped Bust half dollar varieties is 1827 Overton-149, of which just three are known; fewer than 20 examples are recorded of 1827 Overton-148. These varieties have inspired a die-hard brand of specialists known as “Bust Half Nuts.” An organization known as the Bust Half Nut Club requires those interested in joining to have a verified collection of 100 or more Capped Bust half die varieties before being considered for membership, making it one of the most exclusive numismatic societies. Varieties like this one carry special importance to Capped Bust half dollar specialists. It is scarce enough in all grades to merit inclusion in Edgar Souders’ The Top 100 R4 and R5 Capped Bust Half Dollar Varieties & Sub-Varieties, a pocket reference to help collectors locate elusive die marriages. Souders points out that this reverse, used exclusively in the Overton-129 die marriage, shows a ridge in the upright of the L of PLURIBUS that makes it easy to distinguish. Few Mint State survivors of this die variety are known. The latest Overton Condition Census lists only one gem example, followed by four others at grades of MS-63 and lower. Stephen Herrman lists a PCGS MS-64 atop his census, ahead of a listing of this example from 2002 when it remained uncertified. Today, it is the single finest certified example from these dies and is likely the finest Overton-129 yet identified. PCGS# 39728. NGC ID: 24FN.
