Rare U. S. Coins

The half cent was among the first coin strikes authorized by the U.S. Congress on April 2, 1792. Designed by Adam Eckfeldt and first released in 1793, it was minted at the Philadelphia Mint periodically until 1857. Its metal composition was of copper and weighed of 6.74 grams. It is the smallest-denomination coin ever minted in the United States. Its small buying power and large size 22mm, led to its unpopularity at that time in history. Production of the Half Cent discontinued production on February 21, 1857.

Though it may appear strange nowadays, the U.S. government once issued a coin worth less than one cent: the half cent. The copper Half Cent started in production on April 2, 1792. During its 64-years in circulation the Government stuck five basic design types of the tiny (0.93-in) coin. The Philadelphia Mint was the choice of location for striking the first batch of Half Cent coins. A mint Mark was not forged on the coins. The Half Cent's designers and engravers are amongst the most renowned in U.S. Mint history: Adam Eckfeldt, Robert Scot, John Gardner, Gilbert Stuart, John Reich and Christian Gobrecht. Designs for the Half Cent were also translated for use other coin denominations throughout the years. Below is a brief summary of the Half Cent coinage designs.

Liberty Cap

The 1793 Liberty Cap was the first half cent struck and as a result, is a highly coveted coin for today's coin collectors. The obverse design, is believed to be based on sketches made by Mint Director David Rittenhouse, although it is not known for certain who actually finalized the design and the dies for the first Half Cents strike. The obverse features a portrait of “Liberty” facing left. Her hair is flowing behind her, and ascending from the back of her head is a pole that supports a liberty cap. The reverse features a laurel wreath of leaves and berries which circle the value, “HALF CENT”. In 1794 the “Liberty Cap” half cent saw its first design change after only one year of circulation. This design, “Liberty” is facing to the right. While there were many different forms of this design type, the most famed change, other than the direction of “Liberty”, is that she now is wearing her liberty cap. There are varieties which do place the cap held upright by a pole. The reverse remained the same as the previous designs, with a wreath circling the value, “HALF CENT”.

Draped Burst

Starting in 1800, the Half Cents design changed with the introduction of the "Draped Bust" form. The obverse featured a larger version of “Liberty” facing right. The reverse was graced with the existing wreath already in use. The laurel wreath is a close copy of that seen on 1797 Cents. It displays 16 leaves on the left branch and 19 on the right. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” surrounds the border and the value “HALF CENT” is centered on the coin with the fraction, 1/200 at the coin's lower edge.

Braided Hair

The last design variety in the “Half Cent” series is the “Braided Hair”. The designer, Christian Gobrecht, used the same Braided Hair conception he used on the cent of 1839. A bust of “Liberty”, facing left, graces the obverse. Her hair is braided into a bun. She wears a tiara inscribed with the word "liberty". The reverse side was a re-introduction of that used on the 1809 rendition. The denomination, “HALF CENT”, is bordered by a wreath, tied at the bottom with a bow, and circled by the legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”.

Here is a sample of popular U.S. half cent coins selling on eBay right now.

Search terms used to find this website:

half cent coin, American half cent, U S coin value 1/2 cent, half cent coins, 1837 half cent token uncirculated price, 1/2 cent coin, history of the half cent, u s half cent coin, U S 1/2 cent, us half cent history, rare 1 cents coins, when was the last year that half cent coins were minted in the US, purchasing power of half cent in 1804, US 1/2 cent piece, us 1 2 cent coin, value of 1723 half cent, 1/2 cent us coins, us one half cents, was there an 1885 braided hair penny minted, 1/2 CENT 1828 VG VALUE, 1828 us penny, rare american half penny, rare us jfk coin, rare us penny with chin, u s 1 cent, story behind 1833 50 cent peice, removing the half cent from circulation, seller of 1850 braided hair half cent, smallest denomination of coin ever minted in us, smallest us coin 1804, rare 1809 penny value, rare 1/2 cent coins, how much is a 1/2 cent worth coin, how much is a 1804 us half penny worth, how much is a 1840 2 cents penny, how much is a 1946 one cent peso, how much is a liberty cap left half cent worth, is a half a penny rare in the united states?, name of the american coin lower than a penny, olympiada xxi $10 coin, one cent united states of america of 1993 bidding price, price for a 1944 half cent penny, queen elizabeth one half cent, rare 1/2 cent, one half cent coin, how much is a 1/2 cent worth, u s 1/2 cent coins, value of an 1832 half cent, worth of a 1826 us penny, was there any 1853 half cents misprints? \\ tags: bt, buy, cents, circulation, coin, coins, congress, copper, denomination, half cent coin, Half Cents, laurels, mint, obverse, philadelphia, reich, small, strikes, us, value, wreath