The half cent was the smallest denomination of United States coin ever minted. It was first minted in 1793 and last minted in 1857. In that time, it had purchasing power equivalent to between ¢ and ¢ in values. It was minted with five different designs.
History First authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792, the coin was produced in the United States from 1793 to 1857. The half-cent piece was made of 100% copper and worth half of a cent, or one two-hundredth of a dollar (five milles). It was slightly smaller than a modern U.S. quarter with diameters 22 mm (1793), 23.5 mm (1794–1836), and 23 mm (1840–1857). They were all produced at the Philadelphia Mint.
The Coinage Act of 1857, discontinued the half-cent and the similar large cent, and authorized the small cent (Flying Eagle cent).
Design varieties
There are several different types of half cents: Liberty Cap, Facing left (designed and engraved by Henry Voigt) – issued 1793 Liberty Cap, Facing 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 and engraved by Robert Scot or John Reich) – issued 1809 to 1836 Braided Hair (designed by Christian Gobrecht) – issued 1840 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, 1794, and some 1795 coins and a variety of the 1797 coin, it was lettered and another 1797 variety had a gripped, or milled, edge.
Mintage figures Liberty Cap, facing left 1793 – 35,334
Liberty Cap, facing 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 (Shown at top right) 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.
Braided Hair 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
See also
Penny (United States coin), the second smallest denomination of United States coin minted Philippine half-centavo coin, similar denomination issued for the U.S. territory
References
Sources
The Half Cent Die State Book 1793–1857 by Ronald P. Manley, Ph.D., 1998. American Half Cents – The "Little Half Sisters" (Second Edition) by Roger S. Cohen Jr., 1982. Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States Half Cents 1793–1857 by Walter Breen, 1983. The Half Cent, 1793–1857 The Story of American's Greatest Little Coin by William R. Eckberg, 2019 The Half Cent Handbook – Draped Bust Varieties 1800–1808 by Ed Fuhrman, 2020. The Half Cent Handbook – Classic Head & Braided Hair Varieties by Ed Fuhrman, 2021. The Half Cent Handbook – Liberty Cap Varieties 1793–1797 by Ed Fuhrman, 2022. The Half Cent Handbook – Errors and Oddities by Ed Fuhrman, 2022. The Half Cent Handbook – Ultimate Grading Guide by Ed Fuhrman, 2023. The Half Cent Handbook – Ultimate Attribution Guide by Ed Fuhrman, 2023.
External links Half Cent information by year and type Histories, photos, mintages, mints, metal contents, edge designs, designers, and more Half cent coin pictures, Coin Page Database This half cent (numismatics.org:1858.1.1) was the first coin donated to the American Numismatic Society Half Cent, Coin Type from United States Photos, mintage, varieties