Designed by: Christian Gobrecht
Issue Dates: 1838-1839
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Diameter: 30 mm
Weight: 13.36 grams (206.17 grains)
Edge: Reeded
Business Strike Mintage: 5,117,972
Proof Mintage: Fewer than 50

In 1838 the Capped Bust half dollar was restyled slightly, and the denomination on the reverse, earlier styled as 50 CENTS, was revised to HALF DOL. Certain other changes were affected in the thickness of the reverse letters and the details of the eagle. For the first time, half dollars were struck at a branch mint, New Orleans. The 1838-0 half dollar is one of America's prime rarities. It is believed that just 20 were struck, nearly all of which had prooflike surfaces. In the following year, 1839, a more generous mintage of 178,976 half dollars occurred at New Orleans.

The type set collector will probably seek an example of the 1838 or 1839 Philadelphia issue, each of which was minted to the extent of more than a million. Examples are readily available in grades from Very Good through Extremely Fine. AU coins are scarce, and Uncirculated pieces are scarcer yet. Superb Uncirculated coins are very rare and are seldom seen or offered for sale.