A few designers created one of the most iconic American coins minted from 1793 to 1857. Even though you can notice a few variations made because of public dissatisfaction, this coin didn’t crucially change over time from the original appearance. The US Mint only adjusted the details according to the general mood.
As you can imagine, Half cent values vary depending on the coin type and minting year. It contained pure copper with the denomination of one half-cent or 1/200th of a dollar. It is a vital piece of American history, and most collectors want to complete the series. Unfortunately, some specimens are rare, particularly in the mint state, so they are challenging to find.
Half Cent Types
Left-facing Liberty cap
The US Mint started producing the first half-cent type in 1793 based on Henry Voigt’s design. The oldest variety showed a left-facing Lady Liberty with slightly windblown hair.
Half cent |
|
Face value | $0.005 (0.5 cents)
Some varieties have 1/200 marking on the reverse |
Compound | 100% copper |
Coin weight | 0.19189 ounces (5.44 g) |
Coin diameter | 0.92519 inches (23.5 mm) |
Coin thickness | 0.07874 inches (2 mm) |
Shape | Round |
Edge | In 1793 and 1797, it was lettered
From 1794 to 1857, it was plain In 1797 was gripped |
You can find two variations of the reverse, depending on the month of minting. The first option contained chains, but the Mint replaced them with a wreath after public complaints.
Paradoxically, this first, highly unpopular piece in the time of minting is among the top American coinage nowadays. Believe it or not, collectors often pay insane amounts of money for rare specimens.
Right-facing Liberty cap
The right-facing Liberty cap appeared in 1794 after partially changing the original design. You can see the laurel wreath on the coin reverse, unlike the unrecognizable wreath-type from 1793.
Coin designer Joseph Wright also rotated the Liberty’s face and depicted her with elegant hair adorned with a Phrygian cap. After four years of minting, Draped bust half cent replaced this beautiful coin.
Half cent values |
||||
Year | Quality | |||
Good | Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
Left-facing Liberty cap | ||||
1793 | $3,750 | $9,500 | $27,000 | $35,000 |
Right-facing Liberty cap | ||||
1794 | $600 | $1,600 | $6,200 | $14,500 |
1795 | $570 | $1,500 | $6,000 | $12,000 |
1796 | $18,000 | $37,500 | $85,000 | $100,000 |
1797 | $575 | $2,250 | $13,500 | $16,000 |
Draped bust | ||||
1800 | $70 | $150 | $300 | $1,000 |
1802 | $750 | $4,000 | $12,500 | $25,000 |
1803 | $75 | $160 | $325 | $1,500 |
1804 | $75 | $200 | $475 | $2,200 |
1805 | $70 | $120 | $200 | $750 |
1806 | $70 | $120 | $175 | $675 |
1807 | $75 | $125 | $200 | $1,000 |
1808 | $75 | $125 | $220 | $1,300 |
Classic head | ||||
1809 | $55 | $80 | $150 | $300 |
1810 | $55 | $120 | $575 | $1,000 |
1811 | $400 | $1,650 | $6,500 | $8,500 |
1825 | $55 | $80 | $200 | $325 |
1826 | $55 | $80 | $150 | $300 |
1828 | $50 | $80 | $100 | $200 |
1829 | $50 | $70 | $140 | $220 |
1832 | / | $70 | $125 | $200 |
1833 | / | $70 | $125 | $200 |
1834 | / | $70 | $125 | $200 |
1835 | / | $70 | $125 | $200 |
1837 | $40 | $70 | $200 | $375 |
Braided hair | ||||
1849 | / | $70 | $150 | $240 |
1850 | / | $70 | $150 | $240 |
1851 | / | $65 | $100 | $175 |
1854 | / | $65 | $100 | $165 |
1855 | / | $65 | $100 | $165 |
1856 | / | $75 | $125 | $185 |
1857 | / | $100 | $180 | $260 |
*by JM Bullion
Draped bust
From 1800 to 1808, the US Mint produced Draped bust half-cent. The Gilbert Stuart and Robert Scot design contained Lady Liberty wearing luxurious garments on the obverse and an olive wreath on the reverse.
Like all coins minted before the 1830s, these half cents are in a group of Early US Coins with a significant historical value. They are neither popular nor rare nowadays, so you can buy any piece you want for an affordable price.
Classic head
The next half-cent type was Classic head variety minted from 1809 to 1836, but the US Mint produced only proofs in the last minting year. Interestingly, you can also find these coins with the 1837 date.
The United States government didn’t mint them, but Americans needed small change. Therefore, private businessmen produced a certain amount of half-cents.
These pieces designed by John Reich have beautiful Lady Liberty with curly hair and a fillet with the inscription LIBERTY. Her portrait is faced left and surrounded by thirteen stars, while you can see a laurel branch on the reverse.
Braided hair
Chief engraver Christian Gobrecht changed the half-cent design once more. He made Lady Liberty younger and more fashionable with an elegant tight braid tied with a double bead row and coronet.
A laurel branch stayed on the reverse but was slightly modified. Besides proofs minted from 1840 to 1848 and in 1852, the US Mint started producing regular Braided hair half-cent in 1849. Americans adored this design, and it was actual until 1857.
Half Cent Value
Typically, a few things will affect the Half cent value, including the date, possible errors, and condition. As you can guess, most pieces you can find on the market are in low grades due to their age and heavy circulation.
Since only 7,985,222 half cents were minted in total, they are typically rare in any condition on the recurrent market. Some pieces minted in the first years will be costly despite the wear since only a limited number have survived.
In this case, the crucial thing will be their historical value and market demand. On the other hand, collectors will be much pickier regarding coins minted during the 1800s.
Half cent values |
|||||
Year | Mintage | Quality | |||
Good | Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | ||
Left-facing Liberty cap | |||||
1793 | 35,334 | $3,410 | $7,200 | $17,250 | rare |
Right-facing Liberty cap | |||||
1794 | 81,600 | $454 | $1,545 | $3,670 | rare |
1795 | 139,690 | $440 | $1,080 | $3,600 | rare |
1796 | 1,390 | rare | rare | rare | rare |
1797 | 127,840 | $385 | $950 | $2,630 | rare |
Draped bust | |||||
1800 | 202,908 | $75 | $140 | $485 | $1,880 |
1802 | 20,266 | $435 | $2,475 | rare | rare |
1803 | 92,000 | $87 | $175 | $535 | rare |
1804 | 1,055,312 | $75 | $120 | $333 | $848 |
1805 | 814,464 | $75 | $120 | $290 | $1,050 |
1806 | 356,000 | $70 | $110 | $315 | $1,360 |
1807 | 476,000 | $70 | $120 | $315 | $1,120 |
1808 | 400,000 | $80 | $125 | $315 | $2,280 |
Classic head | |||||
1809 | 1,154,572 | $50 | $60 | $150 | $425 |
1810 | 215,000 | $45 | $60 | $465 | $1,445 |
1811 | 63,140 | $270 | $795 | $2,525 | rare |
1825 | 63,000 | $60 | $65 | $180 | $940 |
1826 | 234,000 | $50 | $60 | $105 | $405 |
1828 | 606,000 | $50 | $60 | $130 | $285 |
1829 | 487,000 | $50 | $60 | $110 | $335 |
1831 | 2,200 | rare | rare | rare | rare |
1832 | 51,000 | $50 | $60 | $100 | $270 |
1833 | 103,000 | $50 | $60 | $95 | $270 |
1834 | 141,000 | $50 | $60 | $95 | $260 |
1835 | 398,000 | $50 | $60 | $90 | $210 |
Braided hair | |||||
1849 | 39,864 | $40 | $55 | $120 | $435 |
1850 | 39,812 | $50 | $55 | $160 | $350 |
1851 | 147,672 | $40 | $55 | $90 | $215 |
1853 | 129,694 | $50 | $55 | $95 | $215 |
1854 | 55,358 | $40 | $55 | $95 | $240 |
1855 | 56,500 | $40 | $60 | $85 | $220 |
1856 | 40,430 | $40 | $55 | $95 | $210 |
1857 | 35,180 | $45 | $50 | $110 | $290 |
*by CoinStudy
Besides several rarities, you can find most pieces in the lowest grade for approximately $50 to $70. Those saved in the mint state will be more expensive, and their value will be about $200 to $300.
Only coins minted in the first two decades of minting can reach over $1,000, while the oldest specimens can be worth $10,000 to an impressive $100,000.
Half Cent Rarities and Key Dates
Most Half cents were minted in high quantities, and they are pretty common on the coin market nowadays. However, a few specimens in the series are scarce, and their prices are typically high.
For instance, you can find coins struck in 1804, 1805, and 1806 with and without stems. Plus, numismatists highly appreciate the piece from 1804 with a famous anomaly.
As you can expect, dedicated collectors will always look for key dates and errors, such as:
- 1793 Left-facing Liberty cap
- 1796 Right-facing Liberty cap
- 1802 Draped bust
- 1802 2 over 0 Draped bust
- 1804 Draped bust with crosslet 4
- 1804 Draped bust with plain 4
- 1806 Draped bust with large 6
- 1806 Draped bust with small 6
- 1808/7 Draped bust
Half Cent Grading
Uncirculated – Each piece in the mint state spent no time in circulation, so you can’t see any sign of wear on its surface. Liberty’s hair waves are separated with rounded curls, and stars are clearly defined. You can notice the original metal texture at high points without any flattening.
Extra fine – It is possible to see slight wear over the coin surface, but Liberty’s portrait is still sharp. Major hair strands are well-defined and separated, but curls are slightly flattened. Although some smoothing is visible on the stars, the ribbon’s relief details are still intact.
Fine – Moderate wear is evident to the entire coin surface, and you can see smoothing of Liberty’s hair ribbon while most hair strands are merged. All stars are flattened, and only central line traces are visible. Letterings are still bold and legible.
Good – Unfortunately, this coin spent years in circulation, and you can notice heavy signs of wear over its surface. Liberty’s portrait is practically an outline without defined hair strands, but the date is raised and readable. The LIBERTY lettering on the headband is weak and stars flat, but you can still recognize it.
Summary
The first half-cent was minted in 1793 after Henry Voigt’s design. Although the first coin type was an unfortunate misstep and underwent several changes, it has remained an iconic American collectible. It is not hard to find any of them on the market, but those in the mint state are scarce.