Varieties of the Draped Bust Half Cent

The Draped Bust half cent, designed by Chief Engraver Robert Scot, Gilbert Stuart and John Gardner, was struck at the Philadelphia Mint from 1800 to 1808.

The coin is 5.443 grams of pure copper, with a diameter of 23.5 millimeters. Unlike its predecessor, the Liberty Cap half cent, the Draped Bust half cent has a plain edge with no inscription.

The Draped Bust half cent series features many varieties. There is the 1802/0; 1802/0 Reverse of 1800; 1804 Spiked Chin; 1805 Small 5, Stems; and 1808/7.

A number of the coins were struck on cent stock: planchets rolled and cut down from mis-struck cents. The coiners had to account for all of the copper planchets. Only rarely are traces of the undertype visible.

Again for reasons of economy, many dies were used into later years, with the date repunched.

The year 1806 produced three major varieties of half cents in the Draped Bust series: the Small 6, Stems variety; the Small 6, Stemless variety; and the Large 6, Stems variety. The 1806 pictured here is the Large 6, Stems variety.