1829 Capped Bust Half Dime. LM-9. Rarity-5. MS-67 * (NGC).This is a simply gorgeous Capped Bust half dime that ranks among the finest known survivors of the scarce 1829 LM-9 variety. Both sides are fully untoned with bright silver white surfaces and a bold semi-prooflike finish. The obverse field, in particular, is noticeably reflective. Razor sharp in strike and virtually pristine, this glorious Superb Gem will appeal to advanced type collectors and early half dime variety specialists.<p>The first half dime struck since 1805 and the first issue in the Capped Bust series, the 1829 is very popular for type purposes. Fortunately, enough examples were set aside at the time of production or otherwise managed to survive without seeing commercial use that acquiring an Uncirculated coin in grades through MS-64 should prove relatively easy under normal market conditions. Gems in MS-65 are scarce, however, while in the finest Mint State grades the conditionally challenging nature of the 1829 comes to the fore. This Superb Gem coin offers exceptional quality for both the type and the issue, and the * designation for superior eye appeal (likely attributed to the aforementioned semi-prooflike finish) provides additional appeal. Logan-McCloskey 9 ranks among the scarcest of the 18 known die marriages of this issue, with examples particularly elusive in grades above EF. Both dies were used in other pairings, the obverse identifiable by minor doubling to the ball of the digit 9 in the date. The reverse is easier to attribute due to the presence of the serif of an errant C between the letters CA in AMERICA.
