Early and Bust Half - Die Life and Mintage

So this started out much simpler as I was curious about the large number of Overton numbers for the year 1795 (second highest). Then as to how the die longevity and mintage would change through the bust half series. Once listing this out, I decided I should also take note of the number of dies since for some years it was much different than number of Overton's (of course). That led into recalling some Bust Half Fever (BHF) readings and looking into that. Ugh! I stopped and started this several times so the writing got a little mixed up.
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It is known that early die making was... 'not so good'. So the point here was to see how the longevity of the dies changed through the years of the early half dollars and bust halves, along with the mintage. Both can be easily seen increasing significantly but there is also some notable variations from year to year. I tried to make a note of some changes or 'achievements' that the data showed. Most often there were less obverse dies used per year and in some of the later years, and higher mintages, the difference in the number of obverse versus reverse dies could be larger.
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I should note that mintages are estimates as the mintage for one year might be logged for that following (or previous) year or so references state. BHF makes note of some mintages but then also states for most these wrong year recordings probably average out somewhat (see 1811). Also this does not have anything to do with rarity of Overton numbers as much of that could be due to early die failure of one of the dies, survival rates and such. This is estimated averages.
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Note: Under 1808 I noticed that BHF did not agree with the number of dies or known varieties in Overton. (?) I tried to make a note on this for each year that I saw that. Also BHF does not have 1815 listed.
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The numbers listed across the top for each date are:
Date Mintage Last Overton (Mintage / Number Overton) Obverse Dies Reverse Dies
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Flowing Hair (2 years)
1794 23,464 O-110 2346 O6 R6
Average of only 2346 coins per Overton number. The per die number is higher but still low at 3910.
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1795 299,680 O-132 9365 O19 R20
Average of 9365 coins per Overton number. Mintage much higher than 1794 and not to be exceeded until 1806. The obverse per die number is 15,772. The 32 different Overton number is the second highest behind the 1827 popping at 49. Noticeably more strikes per die than 1794.
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Draped Bust Small Eagle (2 years)
1796 and 1797 3918 O-102 and O-102 979 O3 R3 (numbers are for combined 1796 and 1797)
Some really low numbers here. Interesting the 1796 had 2 observes dies and 1 reverse, while the 1797 was the opposite at 1 obverse and 2 reverse. Low numbers due to limited mintage.
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Draped Bust Large Eagle
1801 30,289 O-102 15,144 O1 R2
Average of 15,144 coins per Overton with only 2 Overton numbers. Since only 1 obverse die the number would be 30,289.
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1802 29,890 O-101 29,890 O1 R1
Only 1 Overton number and therefore 1 obverse and reverse die. So 29,890 per Overton number and per die. Similar to 1801.
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1803 188,234 O-104 47,058 O2 R3
Mintage significantly higher (except for 1795). Increase in the average of 47,058 coins per Overton number. But with only 2 obverse dies the coins per obverse die is doubled to 94,116. The reverse die is at 62,744. This is significantly higher than any previous.
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1805 211,722 O-114 15,123 O7 R9
After skipping a year, a similar mintage to 1803. Average of 15,123 coins per Overton number. But again less obverse dies than Overton's by half yielding an average 30,246 coins per die. These numbers are considerably lower than 1803.
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1806 839,576 O-127 31,095 O12 R21
Large increase in mintage and a significant difference between obverse and reverse dies used. The third highest number of Overton's. The average 31,095 per Overton number is mostly in line with previous but the small number of obverse dies jumps up to 69,964. The reverse die is at 39,980. This is still less than the averages for 1803 but that was only 2 obverse and 3 reverse dies.
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1807 301,076 O-110 30,107 O7 R6
An average of 30,107 per Overton number. This time the reverse die was the minimum number and had an average of 50,179 per die. Similar to the previous few years. This is the end of the Draped Bust Large Eagle but there was a clear increase in number of coins/strikes per die through the short series.
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Capped Bust
1807 750,500 O-111 to O-114 187,500 O4 R3
Design change to the CBH. An average of 187,500 per Overton number. This time the reverse die is the minimum at 3 and 250,166 per die. Not sure what happened but the numbers seem to jump up at this point and for the future years compared to previous years. Could the CBH design have anything to do with it? Or increased mintage? But then Bust Half Fever (BHF) indicates that the mintage may be incorrect and estimates it could be half of the published numbers (this by comparing to 1820). I will note that this would also make the strikes per die align with 1808 through 1811 die numbers.
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1808 1,368,600 O-110 136,860 O10 R9
An average of 136,860 per Overton number and die numbers are in line with this. BHF indicates general agreement with the published mintage.
Note: BHF has O9 and R8 for the number of dies used and known regular varieties 9. There are some more of these that I will note. Anyone know why the difference? When I look at Overton 3rd edition, the number of dies identified by the Overton numbers agree with that listed in the initial summary of each year date. Also Overton 3rd edition has a publish date of 1990 versus BHF first edition of 1995 (so BHF was after the Overton 3rd edition).
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1809 1,404,810 O-115 93,720 O8 R12
An average of 93,720 per Overton number. However, the obverse die number, with only 8 dies, would be 175,601. The reverse die would be 117,067.
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1810 1,276,276 O-110 127,627 O9 R10
An average of 127,627 per Overton number and the die numbers are in line with this. BHF indicates general agreement with the mintage but some estimating closer to 1,100,000 but no info on why.
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1811 1,203,644 O-113 92,588 O10 R10
An average of 92,588 per Overton number. The die number would be an average of 120,364 for 10 dies each O & R. BHF indicates that there is general agreement with the mintage numbers. Also states that in general some reported mintage numbers from previous year could have been done in the current year. But then similarly some of the current year could have been done in the following year. Therefore BHF states the following years will have no more comments on mintage unless there is some extreme exceptions.
Note: BHF has O9 and R8 for the dies used and known regular varieties 11. (?)
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1812 1,628,059 O-110 162,805 O8 R9
An average of 162,805 per Overton number. The number for the lower (8) obverse dies would be 203,507 average per die. The highest die number so far and cracked that 200K. This won't be achieved again until 1821 but 1818 was essentially the same.
Note: BHF has O6 and R8 for the dies used an known regular varieties 8. (?)
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1813 1,241,903 O-110 124,190 O7 R8
An average of 124,190 per Overton number. The obverse die average would be 177,414 with 7 dies used.
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1814 1,039,075 O-109 115,452 O8 R9
An average of 115,452 per Overton number and the die numbers are in line with this. So a little bit of a relative decrease for the 1814 year.
Note: BHF has O7 and R8 for the dies used and known regular varieties 8. (?)
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1815 47,150 O-101 47,150 O1 R1
A small mintage and only one Overton and therefore one obverse and one reverse die used. Due to small mintage and only one die pair the die numbers are probably skewed.
Note: What happened to the 1815 in BHF (MIA)? Am I missing something?
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1817 1,215,567 O-113 93,505 O11 R10 **EDIT: Overton 3rd edition error - actually only 9 reverse dies
An average of 93,505 per Overton number. The reverse die would have an average of 121,567 per die. Similar to the slightly lower 1814.
Note: BHF has O9 and R7 for the dies used and known regular varieties 11. (?)
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1818 1,960,322 O-115 130,686 O12 R10
An average of 130,686 per Overton number. The reverse die number would bump up to 196,032 about the same as the previous high for 1812.
Note: BHF has O10 and R7 for dies used and known regular varieties 12. (?)
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1819 2,208,000 O-115 147,200 O14 R13
An average of 147,200 per Overton number. The dies mostly in line with this at 169,846 average for the reverse die. First mintage to crack the 2 million mark.
Note: BHF has O10 and R8 for number of dies used and know regular varieties 10. (?)
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1820 751,122 O-108 93,890 O6 R7
An average of 93,890 per Overton number. The six obverse die average would be 125,187. From this year through 1836 there are more reverse dies used than obverse (except 1822 and 1835 where they are even). This is the date that BHF used to help conclude that the 1807 mintage may be in error. Stating that with the similar mintage and better die metal in 1820 that it is unlikely the 1807 would have used less dies.
Note: BHF has O4 and R5 for dies used and know regular varieties 6. (?)
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1821 1,305,797 O-107 186,542 O6 R7
An average of 186,542 per Overton number. The six obverse dies would be 217,632. This sets the new high number per die and just over the 1812 (and 1818) at about 200 K per die.
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1822 1,559,573 O-115 103,971 O14 R14
An average of 103,971 per Overton number. The obverse and reverse die would be 111,398. About half the number in 1821 but in agreement with 1820. Some notable inconsistencies in die longevity.
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1823 1,694,200 O-113 130,323 O11 R12
An average of 130,323 per Overton number. The obverse dies would be 154,018. Just a typical or mid-range number for this timeframe.
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1824 3,504,954 O-117 206,173 O14 R16
An average of 206,173 per Overton number. The obverse die would be 250,353. This is a new high per die but also note the increase in mintage to 3.5 million. These higher mintage numbers will be maintained through 1836.
Note: BHF has O13 and R14 for dies used and known regular varieties 15. (?)
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1825 2,943,166 O-118 163,509 O15 R16
An average of 163,509 per Overton number. The obverse die would be 196,211. Another die number at that 200 K range.
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1826 4,004,180 O-120 200,206 O13 R18
An average of 200,009 per Overton number. The obverse die would be significantly higher at 308,013 and the first average over 300 K. But the reverse with 18 dies is down to a more typical 222,454. The mintage hits the 4 million mark.
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1827 5,493,400 O-149 112,110 O29 R34
An average of only 112,110 per Overton number. However, the obverse die would be 189,427 and the reverse die falling in-between at 161,570. The highest mintage so far, and a top 5 overall, of nearly 5.5 million. This mintage combined with the slightly lower coins per die number combined to create a large 49 Overton numbers. This is twice as many or more Overtons than any other date except that early 1795 at 32 Overtons and 1806 with it's then high mintage at 27 Overtons.
Note: BHF has O28 and R31 for dies used and known regular varieties 46. (?)
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1828 3,075,200 O-123 133,704 O13 R19
An average of 133,708 per Overton number. The obverse die being much higher at 236,553 and reverse die splitting it at 161,852. These are the low numbers for any of the following years through 1836. Things getting better?
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1829 3,712,156 O-120 185,607 O11 R16
An average of 185,607 per Overton number. The obverse die again being much higher at 337,468 and the highest so far. The reverse die again lower at 232,009 but a solid number. Similar to 1830 and 1832.
Note: BHF has O10 and R13 for dies used and known regular varieties 18.
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1830 4,764,800 O-123 207,165 O15 R20
An average of 207,165 per Overton number. The obverse die (again) being much higher at 317,653 and reverse die at 238,240. Similar to 1829 and 1832.
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1831 5,873,660 O-120 293,683 O12 R14
An average of 293,683 per Overton number (approaching that 300K). The obverse die (again) being much higher at 489,471 and the highest number by a notable amount so far. The reverse die at 419,547 is likewise at the highest for a reverse die and second highest overall. Also the mintage approaching 6 million is the highest so far.
Note: BHF questions this mintage number and the associated die longevity.
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1832 4,797,000 O-123 208,565 O15 R16
An average of 208,565 per Overton number. The obverse die would be 319,800 and compatible with 1829, 1830.
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1833 5,206,000 O-115 347,066 O13 R14
An average of 347,066 per Overton number (hit that 300 K mark). The obverse die would be 400,461. The reverse die at 371,857. Die strike numbers approaching but a little less to those seen in 1831.
Note: BHF did not have any special notation for mintage of 1833 (or die numbers) or for the following years of 1834 and 1836. For 1835 BHF questions the mintage in such a way that it could impact the numbers for 1834 and 1836.
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1834 6,412,004 O-121 305,333 O18 R21
An average of 305,333 per Overton number. The obverse die would be 356,222. The mintage of 6.4 million is the second highest and about the same as 1836. This year had a lot of small changes or experimenting with the portrait and lettering.
Note: BHF states that he believes many of the 1835 mintage were actually dated 1834 and/or 1836. If so, then that could push the numbers for this date higher. The 1831 had numbers exceeding 400 K which BHF also questioned. Also the 1833 has a high number near 400 K.
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1835 5,352,006 O-110 535,200 O8 R8
An average of 535,200 per Overton number. The obverse and reverse dies would be 669,000.
Note: BHF states that he believes many of the 1835 mintage were actually date 1834 and/or 1836. That the actual 1835 mintage was probably under 4,000,000. Also states from mint correspondence that screw press dies would last for 200,000 to 250,000 strikes before being worthless. Then uses some assumptions to say maybe 350,000 strikes.
However, some of the die numbers above (and below) indicate that the 350,000 was achieved, and particularly for the obverse die. Pushing some of the 1835 mintage to 1834 and 1836 would increase the die strike average for those dates which are near 350 K already.
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1836 6,545,000 O-123 284,565 O18 R20
An average of 284,565 per Overton number. The obverse die would be 363,611 and the reverse die at 327,250. The mintage of 6.5 million is the highest and similar to 1834.
Note: BHF states that he believes many of the 1835 mintage were actually dated 1834 and/or 1836. If so, then that could push the numbers of this date higher. The 1831 had numbers exceeding the 400 K which BHF also questioned.
Note: BHF has O17 and R19 for dies used and known regular varieties 22.
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