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Bust Halves Offer Variety for the Collector

Capped Bust Half Dollars dated from 1807-1836 are enjoyed by collectors from all over the world. The initial releases of these coins had lettered edges and were produced using a screw press. Certain design elements such as the stars, the date, and the lettering were specifically set in by hand. This way of making the coins created a variety of these precious coins that collector’s worldwide desire.
Later in the series, more advanced production equipment was adopted at the Philadelphia Mint. This resulted in more standardized specifications for the coins and the use of a reeded edge. This portion of the series is generally more available than the previous.
There are two entirely different series which are sometimes broadly classified as Bust Halves. This includes the capped bust half dollars and draped bust half dollar coins. Draped bust halves are available in two kinds for the collector, which is one with a small size eagle on the back of the coin and the other with a larger eagle, which makes them very different in appearance. Capped and draped coins are very popular with many collectors and desired by them for their value and for coin collecting.
Typically these coins are mostly encountered in circulated grades or with various problems. Advanced collectors will seek out problem free examples with original surfaces. For those with larger budgets, examples can be acquired in uncirculated grades. These are particularly expensive for certain lower mintage issues of the series.
The Flowing Hair Dollar

Only 1,758 flowing hair dollar coins had been minted and put into circulation, when production was halted in 1794 due to striking issues. A more effective press was obtained and production of the coin resumed in the following year.
The coin depicts a youthful looking Lady Liberty with flowing hair, as well as the date, the 15 stars that signified the Union at the time, and the word liberty. The reverse side of the coin features the recently established name of the country that issued the coin, as well as two olive branches enclosing an eagle with spread wings. There are dentils circling both the back and the front, and several variations of the design were made, including coins with two or three leaves under the wings of the eagle. All the coins were minted in Philadelphia but there is no mint mark, and on the more than 160,000 coins that have the date of 1795, no denomination information appears.
Today, silver dollars are popular and in particular, the flowing hair dollar dating from 1794 is a highly prized US coin. Only a small number of the coins are still in existence today and some fine and rare coins are regarded as being almost proof like.
Proof Eagle Takes Flight

Does absence make the heart grow fonder? Collectors get to answer the question in 2010, as the proof version of the Gold Eagle returns after the US Mint canceled last year’s offering.
Congress authorized the producti