|
Half Cents
The half cent coin was produced in the United States from 1793-1857. The half-cent piece was made of 100% copper. It was slightly smaller than a modern U.S. quarter, with a diameter of 23.5 mm (0.93 inch). more...
 Home
Ancient Coins
Banknotes
British Coins
Bullion/ Bars
Collections/ Bulk Lots
European Coins
Historical Medals/...
Ireland
Novelty/ Replica
Publications
Share Certificates/ Bonds
Supplies/ Equipment
Tokens
United States Coins
 2, 3 & 20 Cents
Collections/ Bulk Lots
Colonial
Commemorative
Dimes
Dollars
Errors
Half Cents
Half Dimes
Halves
Large Cents
Mint Sets
Nickels
Other United States Coins
Proof Sets
Quarters
Rolls
Small Cents
World Coins
Although it is the lowest face value coin ever produced by the United States, given nineteenth century price levels, it was approximately equal to a dime today, in terms of purchasing power.
There are several different types of half cents
Liberty Cap, Left (designed/engraved by Adam Eckfeldt) - issued 1793;
Liberty Cap, Right (large head designed by Robert Scot, small head designed by Scot-John Gardner, engraved by Robert Scot) - issued 1794 to 1797;
Draped Bust (obverse designed by Gilbert Stuart and Robert Scot, reverse designed by Scot-John Gardner, engraved by Robert Scot) - issued 1800 to 1808;
Classic Head (designed/engraved by John Reich) - issued 1809 to 1835;
Coronet (obverse designed by Robert Scot and Christian Gobrecht, reverse designed by John Reich and Christian Gobrecht, engraved by Christian Gobrecht) - issued 1849 to 1857;
There are no mint marks on any of the coins (all minted at the Philadelphia Mint) and the edges are plain on most half cents. On the 1793 coin and a variety of the 1797 coin it was lettered TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR and another 1797 variety had a gripped, or milled, edge.
Mintage figures are the following:
Liberty Cap, Left
1793 - 35,334;
Liberty Cap, Right
1794 - 81,600;
1795 - 139,690;
1796 - 1,390;
1797 - 127,840;
Draped Bust
1800 - 202,908;
1802 - 20,266;
1803 - 92,000;
1804 - 1,055,312;
1805 - 814,464;
1806 - 356,000;
1807 - 476,000;
1808 - 400,000;
Classic Head
1809 - 1,154,572;
1810 - 215,000;
1811 - 63,140;
1825 - 63,000;
1826 - 234,000;
1828 - 606,000;
1829 - 487,000;
1831 - 2,200;
1832 - 51,000;
1833 - 103,000;
1834 - 141,000;
1835 - 398,000;
1836 - proof only, restrikes were made;
1837 - No half cents were struck by the United States government, however due to the need for small change half cent tokens were produced by private businessmen.;
Coronet
1840 through 1849 were proof only issues. There were restrikes made.;
1849 - 39,864;
1850 - 39,812;
1851 - 147,672;
1852 - proof only. Restrikes were made.;
1853 - 129,694;
1854 - 55,358;
1855 - 56,500;
1856 - 40,430;
1857 - 35,180;
Read more at Wikipedia.org
|
|
