1838-O Capped Bust Half

The 1838-O Capped Bust Half Dollar was the first branch mint half dollar and is the lowest mintage of all CBHs with a reported mintage of 20 coins. In Fine condition this coin Grey Sheets at $160,000.

The 1838 Philadelphia CBH had a mintage of 3,546,000 and in Fine condition Grey Sheets at $65. The incentive to alter a genuine 1838 CBH to an 1838-O has existed for a long time (probably since 1893 when coin collectors first took notice of mintmarks).

I have an example of such an altered coin. It is a poor fake that should not fool anyone (especially someone willing to pluck down big bucks for a great rarity). Someone created the 'O' mintmark on the obverse of the coin by carving down into the coin and leaving a "raised" mintmark that any beginning collector could spot.

OK, perhaps whoever created this fake never intended to fool anyone. Maybe he just wanted to fill a hole in his coin folder. And he did not destroy an especially valuable coin; the host coin already had a hole that has been poorly repaired. It is still an interesting piece.

Enjoy!

 

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Interesting coin.

 

I like it. I know it's a damaged coin, but it's kind of funny.

 

I like it , and richie is right it's so crudely done it's funny .
rzage

 

besides the crudely altered mint mark the coin is not that bad. I would gladly add it to my collection..

 

Looks like someone drew that in pen, almost.

 

very interesting.

 

When I get my a couple of more pieces for my photography set-up I'll take a photo that shows the alteration a little better.

 

That's got to be unique!. I wonder if anybody's tried to emboss that one.

 

The toning on that coin is also quite lovely! You can almost see more detail then actually exists due to the contrast it provides.

~Droid