Lot 2322

This is an extremely attractive example of this popular overdate variety. Both obverse and reverse have intermingled iridescent toning, including heather, gold, sea green, and lilac. Traces of lustre remain beneath the toning, especially toward the borders. Although by no means a rarity, this variety is extremely popular with those chasing the Guide Book series of varieties.

It is interesting that this variety does not carry John Reich's signature scalloped star. This suggests that the "overdate" may have actually been a blundered die produced after Reich left the Mint's service. Perhaps the engraver grabbed a digit 3 punch by mistake, intending to use a digit 7 punch, then made the correction to the die.

The coinage for this year totaled 1,215,567 half dollars consisting of 13 varieties from a combination of 11 obverse and 10 reverse dies. This year is remarkable for the two different overdate varieties, 1817/3 and 1817/4, the latter an extreme rarity with less than 10 examples known. In addition to this overdate rarity, there is another very rare die marriage. O-104 is one of just 15 Capped Bust half dollars to garner a Rarity-6 or higher rating. This is a very scarce year to locate in higher grades. The Logan Collection includes 18 coins of this date. Ten of these 18 grade Extremely Fine or better.

The obverse has a few die lumps, along with prominent clash marks. The reverse also has similar die lumps and clash marks. The reverse has a light die crack through ME to the eagle's wing and claw, continuing to the branch stem. From here, this crack becomes lost among the clash marks.

The extremely rare 1817/4 overdate, O-102, is not included in the Logan Collection, one of just six Capped Bust half dollars never obtained. It is interesting to note that this 1817/4 half dollar is the only 1817 variety with a scalloped point to star 13. This suggests that the die was almost certainly made in 1814. In later years, only the 1818/7 obverse die of O-101 has a scalloped point.

Leaman/Gunnet Emission Sequence for 1817 Capped Bust half dollars: O-101, 102, 103, 110, 113, 104, 105, 106, 111, 112, 107, 108, 109.