A remarkable new discovery is set to cross the auction block this summer as the first known certified proof 1824/1 overdate Capped Bust half dollar will be offered by Scotsman Coin & Jewelry during its Midwest Summer Sale 2026.
auction by Scotsman Coin & Jewelry. (Photo credit: PCGS TrueView images.)
The coin, certified PCGS Proof 63 as the Overton 101 variety, was discovered in the collection of a longtime Midwest collector whose family consigned the coins after his passing. Purchased by the collector in 1972—well before third-party grading became commonplace—the coin had never been professionally authenticated until recently.
According to Scotsman Vice President John B. Woodside, the coin was submitted to Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), where it was identified as the elusive 1824/1 overdate with the numeral 4 punched over a 1. While approximately 750 circulation-strike examples of the 1824/1 overdate are believed to exist across several die varieties, no proof example had previously been certified by either PCGS or NGC or documented in the numismatic literature.
The coin is part of what Scotsman calls the “Opa Collection,” a group of rare U.S. coins assembled more than 50 years ago. The collector’s family described the discovery as both exciting and bittersweet, noting that their father devoted his life to studying American numismatics and often shared favorite pieces with the simple phrase, “Look at this beauty.”
Scotsman’s catalog describes the coin as displaying the razor-sharp detail expected of an early proof strike. Multiple strikes from specially prepared dies produced exceptional detail in Liberty’s hair and other design elements, characteristics that distinguish proof coinage from regular circulation strikes.
The discovery also raises intriguing historical questions. Why did the Mint use an overdate die to produce a proof coin? Similar proof overdates are known for several other 1824 denominations, including the dime, quarter, and quarter eagle, but none had previously been documented for the half dollar. The find may encourage researchers to reexamine other early U.S. series for previously unrecognized proof overdates.
The coin carries a pre-auction estimate of $75,000 to $90,000 and will be offered as Lot 725 in Scotsman Coin & Jewelry’s Midwest Summer Sale 2026. Bidding opens on July 22 and concludes on August 7, 2026.
Discoveries of previously unknown major varieties are exceedingly rare in American numismatics, making this proof 1824/1 overdate half dollar one of the most significant Capped Bust half dollar finds in recent years. Collectors and researchers alike will be watching closely to see where this historic coin ultimately lands.