You’ll discover US half dimes were America’s first official silver coins, struck from 1792-1873 in four major design types: Flowing Hair, Draped Bust, Capped Bust, and Liberty Seated. These 89.24% silver pieces range from $10 for circulated commons to over $1,000 for key dates like the 1802 or rare 1870-S. Authentication through professional grading services is essential due to counterfeits. The series offers both accessible entry points and museum-quality rarities that reward deeper exploration of mintmarks, die varieties, and production gaps.
Key Takeaways
- US half dimes began in 1792, evolving through Flowing Hair, Draped Bust, and Liberty Seated designs until production ceased in 1873.
- Early mintages were extremely low, with the 1802 issue producing only 3,060 coins, making it exceptionally rare and valuable today.
- Coins contain 89.243% silver and 10.757% copper, weighing 1.35 grams, with primitive manufacturing causing irregular strikes and unique characteristics.
- Values range from $10 for common worn examples to over $1,000 for rare dates or high-grade specimens like early Draped Bust.
- Key rare dates include 1802, 1805, 1838-O without stars, and the mysterious 1870-S with only one confirmed surviving specimen.
The Birth of America’s Smallest Silver Coin in 1792
While the newly formed United States struggled to establish its monetary identity in 1792, President George Washington authorized the striking of 1,500 silver half dismes that would become America’s first official federal coinage.
In 1792, Washington authorized 1,500 silver half dismes as America’s first official federal coinage amid the young nation’s monetary uncertainty.
This historical context emerged from the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792, which established the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia and implemented a decimal-based monetary system that liberated Americans from British currency constraints.
The coin manufacturing process took place in sawmaker John Harper’s basement during July 1792.
Thomas Jefferson deposited $75 in silver bullion on July 11, receiving all 1,500 struck pieces just two days later.
Robert Birch and Joseph Wright designed the coins, while Jacob Perkins likely produced the dies.
Director David Rittenhouse oversaw production of these five-cent pieces, marking your nation’s first sovereign currency.
The obverse featured Liberty facing left with the legend “LIB. PAR. OF. SCIENCE. &. INDUSTRY.” credited to Benjamin Franklin, while the reverse displayed an eagle with outstretched wings surrounded by “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
Washington’s annual message to Congress featured a quote written by Jefferson that highlighted these half dismes as evidence of the early establishment of the Mint and successful small coinage production.
Flowing Hair and Draped Bust Half Dimes 1794-1805
You’ll encounter two distinct design types when collecting half dimes from 1794-1805: the Flowing Hair series (1794-1795) featuring Robert Scot’s Liberty with streaming hair and Small Eagle reverse.
The second is the Draped Bust series (1796-1805) showcasing Gilbert Stuart‘s more refined portrait paired with either Small Eagle or Heraldic Eagle reverses. These early issues rank among America’s scarcest denominations, with PCGS documenting only 550 surviving 1794 specimens and fewer than 1,800 examples of the 1795 date.
Production gaps in 1798, 1799, and 1804, combined with primitive minting technology that created weak strikes and planchet defects, make assembling a complete set one of numismatics’ most challenging undertakings. The Draped Bust series encompasses catalog values ranging from $1,700.00 to $57,500.00 depending on grade and variety. The 1802 issue stands out as a prime rarity among the 1800-1805 dates, making it exceptionally difficult to locate in any grade.
Design Evolution and Artists
The earliest U.S. half dimes emerged from Robert Scot’s engraving workshop in 1794, introducing the Flowing Hair design that would anchor American silver coinage aesthetics for only two years. You’ll find this metal composition series represents artistic freedom challenged by public rejection.
Director Henry De Saussure commissioned Gilbert Stuart’s sketches after widespread objection to Liberty’s frightening appearance, prompting the 1796 Draped Bust redesign. John Eckstein collaborated with Scot to engrave Stuart’s refined vision, featuring Mrs. Bingham as the classical Liberty model. The Draped Bust series continued production until 1805, featuring two distinct subtypes that collectors distinguish today. These early half dimes maintained a weight of 1.35 grams and measured 15.5mm in diameter throughout their production.
Artist influences shaped fundamental design shifts:
- Robert Scot established Liberty’s foundational portrait across silver denominations
- Gilbert Stuart’s classical sketches replaced controversial Flowing Hair aesthetics
- Mrs. Bingham modeled for the dignified Draped Bust Liberty
- John Eckstein collaborated on die engraving refinements
- Public dissatisfaction accelerated rapid design evolution
Mintage Figures and Survival
Between authorization and actual production, half dimes experienced a three-year delay that would foreshadow persistent manufacturing challenges throughout their early history.
You’ll find the 1794-1795 Flowing Hair issues totaled 86,416 coins, with die state evidence revealing some 1795-dated pieces preceded their 1794 counterparts.
The Draped Bust series (1796-1805) produced merely 179,027 coins across both reverse types, with the 1802 issue’s 3,060 mintage representing extraordinary rarity.
The series features two distinct subtypes based on reverse design changes, with the small eagle appearing in 1796-1797 and the heraldic eagle introduced in 1800-1805.
Production ceased from 1806-1828 due to minimal demand and counterfeiting concerns affecting small denominations.
Both early types maintained a diameter of 16.5 mm and shared identical weight specifications of 1.35 grams.
Today’s survivors typically grade About Good through Fine, reflecting extensive circulation.
When you’re examining coin grading details, remember that even lower-grade examples command significant premiums given their historical importance and limited survival rates across all dates.
Rarity and Composition Details
Physical specifications and compositional standards defined these earliest half dimes with remarkable precision despite the Philadelphia Mint’s primitive manufacturing capabilities.
You’ll find these coins struck with 89.243% silver content (1485/1664 ratio) combined with 10.757% copper, establishing metal purity standards that distinguished American coinage sovereignty. Each piece weighed precisely 1.35 grams, though minting techniques of the era produced considerable weight variations due to hand-adjusted planchet preparation and manual screw press operations.
Critical Composition and Rarity Factors:
- Metal purity specifications exceeded contemporary European standards, asserting monetary independence
- Hand-struck production created unique die characteristics on every specimen, enabling authentication
- Planchet inconsistencies resulted from primitive rolling mills, affecting strike quality and centering
- Survival rates remain exceptionally low due to circulation wear and silver content melting
- Minting techniques evolved rapidly between 1794-1805, creating distinct diagnostic features per year
The original specifications called for a weight of 20.8 grains during the 1796-1805 production period, reflecting the era’s commitment to standardized precious metal content. The 1802 Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle issue stands as particularly scarce with only 13,010 pieces struck, yet paradoxically more specimens are known today than the original mintage suggests. The obverse design featured Liberty’s bust inspired by Gilbert Stuart’s work, with engraver Robert Scot translating the portrait into the die with varying degrees of artistic success across different production years.
The Capped Bust Revival Beginning in 1829
After a twenty-two-year hiatus, half dime production resumed on July 4, 1829, when the second Philadelphia Mint building opened its doors and struck the first Capped Bust specimens.
After more than two decades of silence, America’s smallest silver denomination returned to life alongside the nation’s newest minting facility.
You’ll find 1,230,000 pieces minted that inaugural year, with eighteen die varieties catalogued by Logan and McCloskey—essential knowledge for serious collectors pursuing complete type sets.
The metal composition shifted to 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper, weighing 1.35 grams. William Kneass modified John Reich’s original design, featuring Liberty’s capped profile facing left with thirteen stars surrounding her.
The reverse displays the heraldic eagle with “5 C.”—the first denomination marking on half dimes.
Production continued uninterrupted through 1837, when the Panic’s financial devastation ended this series.
You’ll appreciate that many specimens survive in AU and Mint State grades, offering accessible collecting opportunities today.
Seated Liberty Design Spanning Four Decades
Christian Gobrecht’s Liberty Seated design revolutionized American coinage when it debuted on half dimes in 1837. It established a motif that would dominate the denomination for thirty-six years.
Liberty’s posture—seated upon a rock, grasping a liberty pole—embodied design symbolism representing American independence and vigilance.
The 90% silver composition remained constant at 1.34 grams and 15.5 millimeters diameter.
Evolution of the Liberty Seated Half Dime:
- 1837-1838: No-stars obverse presented minimalist fields with pure design elements.
- 1838-1839: Stars added surrounding Liberty, fundamentally transforming aesthetic balance.
- 1840-1859: Drapery introduced under Liberty’s arm, creating a heavier portrait appearance.
- 1853-1855: Arrows flanking the date indicated a weight reduction from 20.625 to 19.200 grains.
- 1860-1873: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA replaced obverse stars, establishing the final configuration.
Production spanned Philadelphia, New Orleans, and San Francisco facilities through 1873.
Production Interruptions and Notable Rarities
While the Liberty Seated design maintained visual consistency for decades, production patterns told a far more turbulent story characterized by extended suspensions and enigmatic rarities. You’ll discover a 24-year gap between 1805 and 1829 when mint policy prioritized depositor preferences over circulation needs.
Production chaos defined early American coinage—a staggering 24-year hiatus exposed the chasm between mint priorities and commercial necessity.
The 1853 revaluation altered metal composition, marked by arrows flanking dates—Philadelphia struck 13,210,020 pieces to flood commerce with reduced-silver coins.
Civil War pressures closed three Southern mints and prompted nickel mining interests to challenge silver’s dominance, ultimately ending the denomination in 1873.
The 1870-S represents numismatic mystery: only one specimen exists despite documented die shipments.
These production interruptions reflect broader tensions between artistic influences, economic demands, and government control—revealing how political forces shaped your pocket change.
Mint Marks and Geographic Distribution of Half Dimes
You’ll find Philadelphia dominated half dime production from 1794 through 1873, with no mintmark indicating its output across all series from Flowing Hair through Seated Liberty.
The mint struck the highest volumes, including 13,210,020 pieces in 1853 with arrows, and maintained continuous production when branch facilities ceased operations.
San Francisco’s brief 1870-1873 involvement produced extreme rarities like the 1870-S and 1872-S Seated Liberty issues, with the S mintmark appearing below the bow.
Surviving specimens of these coins command substantial premiums in grades above Very Fine.
Philadelphia’s Dominant Production Role
From the Mint Act’s authorization on April 2, 1792, through the series’ termination in 1873, Philadelphia served as the nearly exclusive producer of half dimes for over four decades. You’ll find no mintmarks on Philadelphia-struck pieces, distinguishing them from New Orleans (1838-O) and San Francisco (1863-S) issues—critical knowledge for counterfeit detection.
Philadelphia’s Production Milestones:
- 1792-1837: Absolute monopoly—all 100% production occurred here
- 1794 Flowing Hair: First circulation issue with approximately 7,800 struck
- 1835 peak: 2,760,000 Capped Bust specimens represent highest single-year output
- Historical mintmark changes: Branch operations didn’t commence until 1838, ending Philadelphia’s exclusivity
- Proof production: Systematic striking began 1860, utilizing identical dies as business strikes
Philadelphia maintained superior continuity and volume throughout the denomination’s 81-year existence.
San Francisco’s Extreme Rarities
San Francisco’s foray into half dime production began remarkably late—1863, nine years after the facility’s 1854 opening at 608 Commercial Street. You’ll find most dates struck nearly annually through 1873 in plentiful quantities exceeding 100,000 pieces, maintaining consistent silver purity standards.
However, the 1870-S stands as numismatics’ greatest enigma—officially zero mintage, yet one MS-63 specimen exists, commanding $661,250 at auction.
Die varieties confirm authenticity: six die pairs shipped from Philadelphia in December 1869 intended for cornerstone placement in the “Granite Lady” construction. The reverse die linking 1870-S to 1871-S production provides irrefutable evidence.
This singular treasure represents ultimate scarcity—you’re fundamentally collecting documented history rather than accessible coinage, transforming standard branch mint collecting into pursuit of the impossible.
Collector Values and Investment Potential Today
While half dimes remain among the most accessible obsolete denominations for collectors, their investment potential varies dramatically across the series’ eighty-year span.
You’ll find Seated Liberty issues starting at $10 in Good condition, while Flowing Hair specimens command $1,036 minimum. Market trends favor key dates like the 1838-O without-stars type and 1848 Large Date in Mint State—both currently undervalued relative to actual scarcity.
Critical investment considerations:
- Grading standards exponentially affect value—Mint State Draped Bust coins bring 700% premiums over Good examples.
- The 1805-1829 production gap creates natural scarcity supporting long-term value.
- Scarce New Orleans issues (1849-O, 1852-O, 1853-O without arrows) offer compelling appreciation potential.
- Entry-level Seated Liberty pieces provide portfolio diversification without capital constraints.
- Authentication remains essential given counterfeiting prevalence in early dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Silver Content Percentage in Early Half Dimes?
Early half dimes contain 90% silver, matching the .900 fine metal purity standard across U.S. silver coinage from 1794-1873. You’ll identify authentic coins by this consistent composition, granting intrinsic value and collector freedom in your numismatic pursuits.
Why Was Production Suspended Between 1806 and 1828?
For 23 years, you’d find no half dimes struck due to abundant foreign silver satisfying commerce. This minting history gap ended when demand grew and counterfeit detection concerns rose, prompting the Mint’s 1829 Capped Bust resumption for your financial independence.
How Can I Distinguish Authentic Half Dimes From Counterfeits?
You’ll need professional authentication tips including verifying weight, diameter, and reeding patterns against specifications. For reliable counterfeit detection, submit your coins to PCGS or NGC grading services, who’ll certify genuine examples and protect your investment freedom.
What Factors Determine Half Dime Grades and Conditions?
Over 90% of early half dimes show wear or damage. You’ll evaluate condition factors like surface marks, strike weakness, and circulation wear against established grading standards, comparing your coin’s design details to reference images for accurate assessment.
Should I Clean My Half Dimes Before Selling Them?
Never clean your half dimes before selling—cleaning methods destroy original surfaces and reduce value by 20-50%. Professional graders detect all alterations. Proper preservation techniques involve storing coins untouched in protective holders, maintaining their natural patina and collector appeal.
References
- https://coinappraiser.com/rare-coin-knowledge-center/half-dimes-history/
- https://www.greatamericancoincompany.com/blogs/news/obsolete-us-coins-the-half-dime
- https://www.greysheet.com/news/story/early-american-half-dimes-1792-1837/4509
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_dime
- https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/category/half-dimes/8
- https://www.cacgrading.com/post/half-dimes-history-and-meaning
- https://learn.apmex.com/coin-values/seated-liberty-half-dime-value/
- https://bullionsharks.com/seated-liberty-half-dime-history/
- https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/united-states/half-dimes/early-half-dimes-1792-1837/
- https://www.money.org/tales-from-the-vault-the-1792-half-disme/
