Half cent (United States coin)


The half cent was the smallest denomination of coins of [the United States dollar|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 on April 2, 1792, the coin was produced in the United States from 1793 to 1857. The half-cent piece was made of 100% copper and half of a cent, or one two-hundredth of a dollar. It was slightly smaller than a modern U.S. quarter with diameters 22 mm, 23.5 mm, and 23 mm. They were all produced at the Philadelphia Mint.
The Coinage Act of February 21, 1857, discontinued the half-cent and the similar large cent, and authorized the small cent.

Design varieties

There are several different types of half cents:Liberty Cap, Facing left – issued 1793Liberty Cap, Facing right – issued 1794 to 1797Draped Bust – issued 1800 to 1808Classic Head – issued 1809 to 1836Braided Hair – issued 1840 to 1857
There are no mint marks on any of the coins 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
  • 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