Half Cents

The half cent coin was produced in the United States from 1793-1857. The half-cent piece was made of 100% copper. It was very slightly smaller than a modern U.S. quarter, with a diameter of 23.5 mm (0.93 inch). It is the lowest face value coin ever produced by the United States. more...

There are several different types of half cents

• Liberty Cap, Left (designed/engraved by Adam Eckfeldt) - issued 1793
• Liberty Cap, 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/engraved by John Reich) - issued 1809 to 1835
• Coronet (obverse designed by Robert Scot and Christian Gobrecht, reverse designed by John Reich and Christian Gobrecht, engraved by Christian Gobrecht) - issued 1849 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 coin and a variety of the 1797 coin it was lettered TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR and another 1797 variety had a reeded, or milled, edge.

Mintage figures are the following:

Liberty Cap, Left

• 1793 - 35,334

Liberty Cap, Right

• 1794 - 81,600
• 1795 - 139,690
• 1796 - 1,390
• 1797 - 127,840

Draped Bust

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