Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;lordmarcovan, post: 25840978, member: 10461&quot;]Not necessarily.&nbsp; They just saw heavy circulation.&nbsp; Remember, small change was scarce in the US before and during the Civil War, which is also why so much foreign coinage (British coppers, Spanish silver, etc) was in circulation until 1857.&nbsp; The US Mint could not keep up with demand until well after the Civil War, when they started issuing larger quantities of coins on a more industrial scale.</p><p><br /></p><p>So the small Capped Bust denominations saw very heavy circulation, use, and abuse.&nbsp; Which is why so many of them encountered today are worn and/or ratty.</p><p><br /></p><p>I believe the larger Capped Bust half dollars were used more in banking and mercantile transactions than everyday pocket change, since they were the largest US silver denomination available from 1803 to 1840, when the Mint resumed silver dollar production.&nbsp; As a result, one sees the Bust halves in higher grade more often than their smaller half dime, dime, and quarter counterparts.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in