Bust Half Dollars (1801 - 1839)
The first half dollar was so-called “Flowing Hair” and featured the portrait of Liberty with stars alongside her on the obverse, and a small eagle surrounded by laurel branches on the reverse. After just two years, it was replaced by the “Draped Bust” design with Small Eagle Reverse minted only in 1796-1797. In 1801, Chief Engraver Robert Scot introduced the Bust Half dollar featuring a Heraldic Eagle on the reverse and Miss Liberty on obverse surrounded by 13 stars, representing the 13 original colonies. In 1807, the Draped Bust halves were replaced by the “Capped Bust, Lettered Edge (1807-1836)” Half Dollars – designed by John Reich. The obverse had Miss Liberty facing left instead of right and with curly hair tucked in a mobcap. Lettered Edge Capped Bust halves were issued until 1836, when they were replaced by the Capped Bust halves with a reeded edge. There are multiple major varieties of Bust Half dollars for almost every date. These varieties have captivated coin collectors for generations. In 1967, Al C. Overton spurred collectors' interest in Bust half dollars when he identified and codified over 500 die varieties and openly expressed his fascination for these beautiful coins in his book “Early Half Dollar Die Varieties 1794-1836.”
Buy Bust Half Dollars online from the Executive Coin Company, one of the top coin dealers in the United States. We offer a variety of Bust Half Dollars for sale in different grades: circulated, uncirculated, certified and graded by PCGS, NGC, and ANACS! Each coin is expertly photographed with color images of both obverse and reverse. Our half dollars selection includes the ever popular 1807 - 50 over 20 variety, and other sought out dates including: 1807, 1811, 1812, 1817, 1824, 1827 7 over 6, and 1837 Reverse 50 cents. Our inventory also includes the 1834 varieties with Large Date or Small Date, Large Letters Reverse or Small Letters Reverse. Each coin has been identified by Overton number. Please spend some time viewing our bust halves collection. We are hopeful you will find something you like. Purchase with confidence – your satisfaction is our ultimate goal.
John Reich designed the reverse of the Capped Bust Half Dollar showing an eagle with outstretched wings as if it was getting ready to take off. On the obverse, besides wearing a drapery clasp, Liberty wore a headband with the inscription “LIBERTY” on it, just below her cap. Additionally, Chief Engraver Robert Scot reversed the positions of the arrows and olive branch held in the Eagle’s claws, putting the warlike arrows in the right claw and the peace symbol of the olive branch in the left claw. The inscription 50 C. appeared below the Eagle and the motto “E Pluribus Unum” was placed above the Eagle. In 1836, the Capped Bust halves with a reeded edge were issued. This new design was much like the older Capped Bust but showed some refinements: Liberty was slenderized, the motto on the reverse was removed, and the value sign of 50 C. was replaced with 50 CENTS in 1836 and HALF DOL. in 1837.
Browse By Generation:
1801-1807
1807-1836
1836-1839
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1801-1807 |
1803 Draped Bust Half Dollar Nearly XF O-103 R.3 |
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$1,375.00 |
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1806 Draped Bust Half Dollar XF/AU Detail O-119 R.3 |
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$1,375.00 |
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1806 Draped Bust Half Dollar G/VG Detail O-115 |
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$195.00 |
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1806 Bust Half Dollar PCGS AU/BU Detail Pointed 6, Stem |
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$2,875.00 |
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1806 Draped Bust Half Dollar XF Detail O-103 Eye Appeal |
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$1,060.00 |
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1806 Draped Bust Half Dollar Nice AU O-109a R.4 |
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$4,170.00 |
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1806 Draped Bust Half Dollar Nice XF/AU O-106 R.4 |
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$1,885.00 |
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1806 Draped Bust Half Dollar Choice AU/BU O-106 R.4 |
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$4,685.00 |
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1807-1836 |
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1807 Bust Half Dollar XF O-112 50 Over 20 |
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$750.00 |
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1808/7 Bust Half Dollar F/VF Detail O-102 |
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$165.00 |
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1808 Bust Half Dollar VF/XF Detail O-104 |
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$190.00 |
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1808 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF+ O-103 |
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$325.00 |
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1817 Bust Half Dollar G/VG Detail O-105a R.4 Die Crack |
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$65.00 |
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1818 Bust Half Dollar XF/AU Detail O-113 |
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$295.00 |
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1824 Bust Half Dollar F+ Detail O-108 |
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$60.00 |
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1825 Bust Half Dollar BU Detail O-115 Fabulous Strike |
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$635.00 |
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1825 Bust Half Dollar Choice AU/BU O-101 |
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$557.00 |
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1826 Bust Half Dollar Choice AU/BU O-111a Great Color |
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$325.00 |
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1827 Bust Half Dollar XF- O-119 R.4 |
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$225.00 |
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1827 Bust Half Dollar XF+ O-113 R.4 Nice Original |
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$283.00 |
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1828 Bust Half Dollar G Detail O-115 R.2 |
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$56.00 |
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1829 Bust Half Dollar Nice BU O-112 Fantastic Color |
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$848.00 |
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1830 Bust Half Dollar G O-119 |
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$56.00 |
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1830 Bust Half Dollar VG Detail O-108 R.3 Nice Color |
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$55.00 |
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1830 Bust Half Dollar G/VG O-119 R.1 Nice Color |
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$65.00 |
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1831 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF/AU O-113a R.3 |
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$155.00 |
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1831 Bust Half Dollar XF/AU O-103 |
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$215.00 |
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1831 Bust Half Dollar AU O-104 |
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$236.00 |
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1831 Bust Half Dollar Choice AU/BU O-105 |
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$345.00 |
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1831 Bust Half Dollar Choice AU O-101 |
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$268.00 |
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1831 Bust Half Dollar Nice AU O-102 |
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$240.00 |
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1831 Bust Half Dollar Nice VG O-101 Decent Surfaces |
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$62.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar PCGS MS63 Great Eye Appeal |
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$1,885.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar AU/BU O-107 |
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$295.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar Nice VG O-102 |
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$65.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar Choice AU/BU O-116 |
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$399.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar XF/AU O-103 |
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$215.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar XF/AU O-110 |
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$136.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF+ O-103 |
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$142.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar XF Nice Original O-106 |
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$120.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar Nice AU O-110 |
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$257.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar AU O-118 |
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$245.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar AU O-113 Nice Original |
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$236.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar F/VF Detail O-104 R.3 |
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$65.00 |
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1832 Bust Half Dollar F/VF Detail O-113a R.3 |
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$65.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar Choice AU O-103 |
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$270.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar Nice XF O-104 Great Color |
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$130.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar XF/AU Detail O-106 |
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$110.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar XF/AU O-102 |
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$130.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar VG Detail O-102 |
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$40.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar XF Detail O-102 |
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$92.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar MS60 O-104 Luster |
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$845.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar Nice AU O-108 Great Eye Appeal |
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$278.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar AU Detail O-107 |
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$162.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar XF+ O-110 |
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$130.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar F/VF Detail O-108 |
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$64.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF O-110 |
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$131.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar Nearly XF Detail O-104 |
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$83.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF+ O-104 |
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$136.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar VF/XF O-104 |
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$98.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar Choice AU/BU O-109 R.3 Luster |
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$373.00 |
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1833 Bust Half Dollar Choice AU/BU O-108 Great Color |
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$399.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF Detail Nice Eye Appeal O-103 |
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$88.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF Detail O-112 R.3 |
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$109.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF/AU O-114 Nice Color |
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$146.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice BU+ O-117 Nice Luster |
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$795.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar AU/BU O-105 |
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$400.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar NGC MS62 Fantastic Color |
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$1,420.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nearly AU O-109 Nice Luster |
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$163.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice VF+ O-116 R.1 |
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$70.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF+ Great Eye Appeal |
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$141.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF+ O-105 |
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$130.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice XF O-114 Nice Eye Appeal |
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$110.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Choice AU+ O-107 |
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$278.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF/AU O-114 |
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$163.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice AU O-114 |
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$215.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice AU O-108 |
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$333.90 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF/AU O-107 |
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$215.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar VF/XF O-117 |
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$75.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice XF O-114 |
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$131.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice AU O-103 |
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$289.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF Detail O-109 |
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$110.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF/AU O-114 |
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$135.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF Detail O-114 |
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$98.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF/AU O-103 |
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$175.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF/AU O-116 |
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$162.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF Detail O-114 |
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$78.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar AU- O-114 |
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$178.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF O-114 Original |
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$141.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice AU O-114 Original |
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$265.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Choice Nice XF O-108 |
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$130.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice AU O-114 |
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$265.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF Detail O-114 |
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$88.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF O-114 |
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$120.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice AU O-116 |
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$252.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice VF Detail O-107 Nice Color |
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$70.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice AU Detail O-102 NIce Color |
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$200.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice XF/AU O-103 |
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$155.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF+ O-111 Great Eye Appeal |
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$110.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF/AU O-107 Luster |
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$190.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Choice AU O-108 Fantastic Strike |
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$270.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Choice VF+ O-116 Great Color |
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$80.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice VG O-111 Nice Color |
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$70.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar VF/XF Detail O-112 R.3 |
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$72.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar VG O-115a R.4 |
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$67.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar XF Detail O-102 |
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$90.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice F O-111 Nice Eye Appeal |
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$70.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar F/VF Detail O-115a R.4 |
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$80.00 |
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1834 Bust Half Dollar Nice XF O-112 R.3 |
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$109.00 |
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1835 Bust Half Dollar Choice VF/XF O-105 |
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$90.00 |
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1835 Bust Half Dollar XF Detail O-109 |
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$72.00 |
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1835 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF+ O-105 |
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$147.00 |
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1835 Bust Half Dollar Choice XF+ O-103 |
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$147.00 |
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1836 Bust Half Dollar AU Detail Nice Eye Appeal O-104 |
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$162.00 |
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1836 Bust Half Dollar Choice AU/BU O-117 |
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$425.00 |
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1836 Bust Half Dollar VG O-114 Nice Original |
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$70.00 |
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1836 Bust Half Dollar G/VG Detail O-113 Nice Color |
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$55.00 |
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1836-1839 |
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1837 Bust Half Dollar Nice XF Detail Tougher To Find |
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$155.00 |
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1838 Reeded Edge Bust Half Dollar Nice AU Detail |
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$270.00 |
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