1836 Capped Bust Half Dollar. Reeded Edge. 50 CENTS. GR-1, the only known dies. Rarity-2. VF Details--Cleaned (PCGS). Between the legendarily elusive Small Eagle half dollars of 1796 and 1797 and the scarce Philadelphia Mint dates between 1879 and 1890, no other half dollar issue approaches the low mintage of the 1836 Reeded Edge. Though a mintage figure of 1,200 pieces for circulation was divined by Walter Breen decades ago, the true figure is undoubtedly several thousand coins higher; even so, R.W. Julian estimates it at only 5,000 or so pieces. Survivors are eagerly sought at all levels of preservation, especially since this is also historic as the first United States Mint half dollar struck on a steam press. From the Collection of Silas Stanley Roberts, 1888-1966.
