Collection: Type 2, Reeded Edge, 50 CENT

Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Dates: 1836-1837
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Diameter: 30 mm
Weight: 13.36 grams (206.17 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 3,631,020
Proof Mintage: Fewer than 40

1836–1837 Capped Bust Half Dollar – Reeded Edge | Early Steam Press Innovation

The 1836–1837 Capped Bust Half Dollar with Reeded Edge marks a pivotal ... Read More

Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Dates: 1836-1837
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Diameter: 30 mm
Weight: 13.36 grams (206.17 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 3,631,020
Proof Mintage: Fewer than 40

1836–1837 Capped Bust Half Dollar – Reeded Edge | Early Steam Press Innovation

The 1836–1837 Capped Bust Half Dollar with Reeded Edge marks a pivotal moment in American numismatics—the dawn of steam-powered coinage at the Philadelphia Mint. Introduced in 1836, this historic type represents the transition from manual screw press production to modern minting techniques.

Redesigned by Christian Gobrecht, this modified version of John Reich’s Capped Bust motif features a smaller diameter and a finely reeded edge, a distinctive departure from earlier lettered edge issues. The obverse depicts Miss Liberty facing left, her cap inscribed LIBERTY, tresses flowing to her shoulder, and her neckline gracefully draped and secured with a brooch. Thirteen stars (six to the left, seven to the right) frame the portrait, with the date at the bottom.

The reverse showcases a refined eagle design, perched on a branch and grasping three arrows. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arches above, and the denomination 50 CENTS appears boldly below—struck with cleaner definition thanks to the enhanced pressure of steam coinage.

Collectibility & Rarity

• The 1836 reeded edge half dollar had a minuscule mintage of just 1,200 coins, making it a key rarity across all grades and a cornerstone of any advanced U.S. type set.

• The 1837 issue, with over 3.6 million struck, is far more accessible and offers an excellent representative of the short-lived reeded edge subtype.

• Most survivors range from Good to Extremely Fine.

• About Uncirculated (AU) examples are notably scarce.

• Strictly Uncirculated coins are rare, and superb Mint State pieces are exceptionally difficult to acquire.

Whether you're building a Capped Bust half dollar type set, assembling a 19th-century U.S. Mint collection, or seeking to own a coin that signifies a major technological evolution in American coinage, the 1836–1837 Reeded Edge Half Dollar is an essential addition.