1815/2 Capped Bust Half Dollar

AI-generated illustration — not a photograph of a genuine coin.

Every 1815 half is an overdate: 47,150 struck with the 5 punched over a 2 — the lowest mintage of the Capped Bust half series (CoinWeek; PCGS).

History

Struck in early 1816 but dated 1815, from silver deposited by the Philadelphia firm Jones, Firth & Company, after War of 1812 hoarding had starved the Mint of bullion. (Numismatic News, accessed 2026-09-16)
Every 1815 half dollar is an overdate: the 5 was punched over a partially effaced 2 on an obverse die originally dated 1812, and subtle portions of the underlying 2 show on both sides of the 5. (PCGS; USA Coin Book, accessed 2026-09-16)
The reported mintage of 47,150 is the low for the Lettered Edge Capped Bust half series, all struck from a single obverse die. (CoinWeek; Numismatic News, accessed 2026-09-16)
The 1881 discovery of about 100 examples in the Harmony Society hoard at Economy, Pennsylvania, eased supply and accounts for roughly a quarter of the survivors known today. (Numismatic News, accessed 2026-09-16)
Specifications: 89.24% silver, 10.76% copper; 13.48 g; 32.5 mm; lettered edge reading FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR; designed by John Reich; struck at Philadelphia. (numiis; CoinWeek, accessed 2026-09-16)

The key date of the Capped Bust half type and the only 1815-dated coin in the series (CoinWeek).
Single-die issue: every genuine example shows the 1815/2 overdate.

KEY DIAGNOSTIC MARKERS: the 5 punched over a 2 — look for remnants of the underlying 2 on both sides of the 5 (often subtle); lettered edge FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR; Capped Bust obverse by John Reich.
Value factors: grade — most survivors are about VF-20, lower grades are scarce because the coins circulated little, and high-grade survivors are rare (Numismatic News); originality and eye appeal drive premiums at each grade.