1817/3 Capped Bust Half Dollar PCGS XF45 CAC
One of the most egregious overdates in the Capped Bust Half Dollar series, this overdate truly makes no sense. Ron Guth summarizes this well: "If it were a leftover die from 1813, one would expect the 13th obverse star to show the notched point that is believed to be the "signature" of engraver John Reich. Reich resigned his position in March 1817, after which the notching of the stars ended. This suggests that the new engraver simply made an error by punching a 3 into the die, then corrected it with the proper 7 punch. But, why would the engraver have picked up a punch for a 3? That would have been an egregious oversight on the engraver's part, especially since he was four year's away from a need for a 3, plus there is no U.S. coin from 1817 where a 3 might be used in either a legend, motto, or denomination."
This is a well-struck example free from the ruin that most 1817/3's have experienced. A strong central design, olive-grey patina, and and smooth surfaces collectively ensure the quality of this piece. This piece is also CAC approved for quality.
Looking at auction archives, there have only been 10 CAC'd examples at auction since January 2020. That's only 2 coins per year in the market. This is the O-101, R.3 variety.
PCGS Population - 44/110
CAC Population - 14/31
PCGS Price Guide - $2,250
CAC Price Guide - $2,200