• GFRC
• Daily Blog
• Gallery
• Sale Lists
• Sale Search
• Auctions
• Consign
• Buying
• Set Registry
• Sales Archive
• Price Research
• About Us
• Show Schedule
• Die Varieties
• GFRC-Lite
• Create Account
• Sign In

Collecting Bust Half Dollars can be approached from several vantage points. Most individuals build early United Stated coinage type sets and required only one example of the Flowing Hair, Draped Bust, Capped Bust and Reeded Edge halves. Then there are the variety specialists who take collecting to a precise level by seeking out individual die pairings within a date.

The Overton and Parsley reference books for collecting Bust halves by variety are well known and loved. All Gerry Fortin Rare Coin offerings are attributed to the Overton variety classification system. Rarity numbers are from the same source. When no rarity number is shown, then an R1 (common) rarity is implied.

GFRC has joined with Dave Cinquina to cross-link Bust Half Dollar variety information. Dave is constructing a free online resource (BustHalfAddict.com) that illustrates the Overton varieties with GFRC providing sponsorship. As a result of this partnership, each GFRC listing carries an Overton number and link to the relevant page at BustHalfAddict.com. By simple clicking on the Overton number, access to specific variety information and high resolution images is provided at the Dave Cinquina site.

Happy Hunting to all! Please do not hesitate to provide feedback on how Gerry Fortin Rare Coins might improve your Bust Half Dollar acquisition experience.

There are 14 Coins for Sale. New coin(s) added on March 31, 2026

Photo	Date	Grade	TPG	Variety	GFRC Rating	Price	Description	Buy
Flowing Hair
There are currently no coins for sale fitting this criteria.
Draped Bust
	1803 Large 3	VF30	PCGS 83223808	O-101	Choice	HOLD $1995	New February 27! Large 3 O-101 12 Arrows, Choice Original, Medium Gun, Circulated Cameo Eye Appeal Blemished Free Surfaces, Accurately Graded, formerly Port Matilda Collection. Large 3. A gorgeous offering with substantial eye appeal at the VF30 grade level. Gray toned surfaces are choice with no blemishes worth mentioning. The different shades of gray, especially lighter coloring on the wear points, leads to an attractive circulated cameo apperance. Bright light viewing brings about golden hues, especially in the obverse. Strike is crisp and uniform with no points of weakness. Grading is accurate to a tad conservative. Freshly graded and housed in 2015 style PCGS holder with CAC approval. Another challenging early type offering from the Port Matilda Collection that is from the individual's personal collection. Above average coins deserve a premium.
	1806 Pointed 6, No Stem	VF30	PCGS 27705235	O-109	Gem	$1600	New February 19! Excellent Eye Appeal, Conservative Grading, Light Gray Patina with Residual Luster, formerly Saco River Collection. After handling a substantial number of 1806 Draped Bust halves, one can quickly discern those with special eye appeal and pristine surfaces. This is the case for this lovely 1806 O-109 half that has been approved by CAC and assigned a Gem quality rating by GFRC. Though graded VF30 by PCGS, there is ample remaining mint frost surrounding the stars, within Liberty's curls and within the reverse legend. Surfaces are entirely blemish free and lustrous during bright light viewing. Housed in 2013 PCGS holder with edge view insert. The blue and white label reads, "Overton 109 Pointed 6 No Stem." A gem offering formerly from the Saco River Collection.
	1807 Sm Stars	VG10	PCGS 19704126	O-108	Choice	HOLD $675	New February 26! Small Stars, Choice Original, Eye Appeal, Accurately Graded. A noteworthy offerings given the "small stars" obverse designation. Surfaces are choice with the only blemish found being a tiny center "dot" below the ear. Housed in older blue label PCGS holder. Holder label reads "Small Stars" which may imply the O-101 variety and listed as such in the PCGS population report. CAC approval validates what the eyes see; a choice early half dollar with original gray/rose patina and choice surfaces at the assigned grade level.
Capped Bust
Image Available Soon	1808	F12	raw			$125	.
	1809 III Edge	EF40	PCGS 26161207	O-109a	Choice	HOLD $950	New February 27! III Edge Variety, Near Gem Original, Crusty Gray-Gold Patina, Well Struck, Eye Appeal, Accurately Graded. A near gem example of the popular 1809 III Edge variety. This example is the more available O-109a die pairing and die state. Surfaces are perfectly original with crusty gray patina. The wear points are toned in lighter shades reflecting the natural preservation state. A close inspection with 10x loupe revealed no blemishes whatsoever. This is a wholesome example that will please the most selective collector. Housed in 2013 transitional PCGS holder with blue label and edge view insert.
	1809 III Edge	VF30	CACG 551850642	O-111	Choice	$995	New March 31! Colorful Toning. Probem free. Ex. John McCloskey. Beautiful toning is the hallmark of this early bust half. Grey blue and rust toning cover the peripheries of this sharply struck coin. The wear pattern creates a circulated cameo look on the obverse. In a CACG Witter Brick holder.
	1810	EF40	PCGS 33562834	O-101a	Choice	$795	New February 19! Late Die State, Extensive Die Cracking, Choice Original Surfaces, Superior Bright Light Eye Appeal, Accurately Graded. Gorgeous coloring with rose, aquamarine and grey througout the obverse while the reverse is mostly light gold. Pristine surfaces without any blemishes. There is extensive die cracking across the lower obverse consistent with O-101a attribution points. Housed in 2015 style PCGS holder with CAC approval. A gorgeous offering formerly from the Port Matilda Collection for serious fans of Capped Bust half dollars.
	1811/10	EF40	PCGS 29375656	O-101	Choice	$950	New February 19! Choice Original, Perfect Gun Metal Gray, formerly Seal Beach Collection. An accurately graded, attractive original coin. Under a light, there is subtle color on both sides around the devices. The period between the 8 and 1 in the date is interesting and characteristic of this O-101 variety.
	1812	EF45	PCGS 53977395		Choice	$1150	New March 20! Beautiful Color on this Earlier Capped Bust Half. While looking at several dozen Bust half dollars in Baltimore, this one captured us with the very attractive color on both sides. The color on the obverse surrounds the peripheries and around Miss Liberty. The reverse displays exciting rainbow colors .
	1812	VF30	PCGS 57673687	O-109a	Choice	$395	New February 25! Late Die State. This is the advanced O-109a die stage. Heavy die gouges run through the eagle's left (facing) wing and the top pair of olive leaves. A later die state shows these gouges lapped mostly away, making this the most interesting die state for the O-109 die marriage. Very smooth, attrative lightly marked surfaces apart from an old toned over scratch near the bust at star 1.
	1813	EF45	PCGS 37026697		Choice	$925	New February 27! Super Original. Both sides have grey toning with original luster peaking out at the stars and letters. Weakly struck at the lower reverse and upper part of the obverse.
	1817	EF40	PCGS 20320561		Choice	$695	New March 31! Original Grey. Bell metal grey toning covers the problem free surfaces of this O-110 half. Well struck with hairline free surfaces.
	1817/3	EF40	PCGS 36663773	O-101	Choice	HOLD $1750	New February 19! Want List Fulfillment.
	1818/7 Large 8	EF40	PCGS 14722712	O-101	Choice	$895	New February 27! Popular 1818/7 Overdate, Choice Original, Dusty Gray-Gold Patina, Pleasing Bright Light Eye Appeal, Accurately Graded. Popular 1818/7 overdate (O-101) with the initial 7 digit being boldly visible under the final 8 punch. Surfaces are toned a dusty gray-gold with gray coloring being dominant during in hand viewing. Adding a light source activates pretty yellow gold coloring that surrounds the obverse stars and reverse legend. The reverse center also shifts to aquamarine gray. Blemishes are limited to one stray line on the cap that is ancient and of no concern. Housed in old blue label PCGS holder with standard ring insert and "Large 8" listed on the label.
	1827 Sq Base 2	AU50	PCGS 45745594		Choice	$895	New February 27! Gorgeous Peripheral Toning. Both sides have evenly matched classic album toning consisting of darker blue peripheries with lighter iridescent grey centers. Very original in appearance as confirmed by the CAC sticker.
	1832 Small Letters	AU53	PCGS 49589535	O-114	Original	$665	Challenging Overton Pairing, Satiny Luster, Untoned, Near-Choice Original, Lakeland Collection. 2025 Black Friday Sale Offering - Clearly a better Overton variety, this 1832 O-114 offering is worthy of consideration for its brilliant luster and well preserved surfaces. The obverse luster falls into the satiny realm with heavy metal flow lines into the milling while the reverse is much more steely in presentation. Mint frost is readily evident on both sides with minimal abrasions. The O-114 variety can be attributed by multiple die lines below the right side of the reverse shield. Surfaces are untoned with two micro-ticks on the reverse. Housed in PCGS Gen 6.1 (2020-2024) holder.
	1834 Small Date, Small Letters	AU58	PCGS 34161696	O-116	Choice	$745	First Use of Hub 8, Steely-Frosted Luster, Mottled Gray, Choice Surfaces. 2025 Black Friday Sale Offering - This newly consigned 1834O-116 Capped Bust half features the first use of Hub 8 with a doubled outlined clasp. The obverse is easily attributed by a "worm in the field' left of the breast which in reality appears to be an early recut impression of the breast outline. On the offering, the remaining impression is sharp under a 10x. An unquestionably choice example with steely-frosted luster and lightly mottled coin gray patina. Surfaces are unabraded and pleasing. An ideal lot for the die variety specialist given the strong diagnostics and essentially no wear. Housed in PCGS Gen 6.0 (2015-2020) holder.
	1835	EF40	CACG 436746183		Choice	$450	New March 31! Colorful Toning. This near gem has light grey surfaces with copper centers and beautiful colorful toning at the peripheries. The usual conservative grading by CACG.
	1838 Reeded Edge	EF40	PCGS 24327694		Choice	$495	New March 31! Crusty Original. This common type coin is obviously original and toned in blue grey shades with a bit of crust. A few marks in the obverse field but it possesses excellent eye appeal for the grade.