1815/2 Capped Bust Half Dollar. O-101. Rarity-2. Unc Details--Cleaned (PCGS). Vivid toning in cobalt blue and reddish-silver iridescence provides very strong eye appeal for to the assigned grade. Considerable reflectivity is evident in the fields enhancing the visual appeal. Well centered in strike with most design elements boldly to sharply defined, there is much to recommend this coin to advanced Bust half dollar enthusiasts.<p>The half dollar was the most popular denomination with contemporary bullion depositors during the early 19th century. Despite this, the Mint was caught unprepared by the renewed demand after the War of 1812 in February of 1815 and did not have any 1815-dated dies on hand. To allow coinage to resume as soon as possible, Mint employees retrieved an unused 1812-dated die, punched a 5 over the 2, and used this obverse to strike approximately 47,150 1815/2 half dollars. Overton-101 is the only known die marriage of this issue, although it comes in early and late states, the latter identifiable by peripheral die cracks on the reverse. While enough examples of both the O-101 and O-101a die states have survived to make both varieties readily obtainable, the lack of any other die marriages means that the 1815/2 is scarce compared to all other dates in the Capped Bust half dollar series. Mint State survivors are of the utmost rarity and desirability, and even a cursory perusal of our auction archives will confirm the important bidding opportunity represented by this offering. From the Naples Bay Collection. From the Naples Bay Collection.
