1833 PCGS AU55 AU55 CAC

1833 PCGS AU55 AU55 CAC

This 1833 Capped Bust Half Dollar, graded PCGS AU55, is a beautiful near-Mint example showcasing crisp detail and warm, original patina. The high points of Liberty’s cap and curls show only light friction, while the fields retain satiny luster and strong cartwheel effect under the toning. Strike definition is exceptional for the date, with sharp star centers and bold feather detail in the eagle’s wings. The surfaces are clean and pleasing, with no distracting marks—an ideal example for collectors who appreciate originality and eye appeal just shy of Mint State quality.

The year 1833 was part of a fascinating era in U.S. coinage history, when the Capped Bust design by John Reich and later refined by William Kneass was still the backbone of American silver currency. Mint operations were entirely manual—coins were struck one at a time using screw presses—and output was relatively modest by modern standards. Andrew Jackson was President, and the nation was expanding westward as trade and industry grew. Each half dollar like this circulated heavily in daily commerce, making lightly worn survivors such as this AU55 example scarce and historically significant. It represents a tangible connection to early 19th-century America—when silver coins truly served as the backbone of the nation’s economy.

30174613  1025E25