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The smallest denomination By Michele Orzano
COIN WORLD Staff Although it may seem unusual today, the United States government once issued a coin worth less than one cent: the half cent. The copper U.S. half cent was ... Read more
Liberty Cap Left Half Cent
The smallest denomination By Michele Orzano
COIN WORLD Staff Although it may seem unusual today, the United States government once issued a coin worth less than one cent: the half cent. The copper U.S. half cent was authorized for production on April 2, 1792. During its 64-year lifespan as a circulating denomination, five different basic design types of the tiny (0.93-inch) coin were struck. The coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint and do not have a Mint mark. The half cent's designers and engravers are among the best known names in U.S. Mint design/engraving history: Adam Eckfeldt, Robert Scot, John Gardner, Gilbert Stuart, John Reich and Christian Gobrecht. Designs for the half cent were also used on other denominations through the years. The 1793 Liberty Cap half cent features a lettered edge stating TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR. The obverse depicts a bust of Liberty with flowing hair, facing left. A Liberty Cap on a pole rests on her right shoulder giving the design its name, the Liberty Cap. The design for the Liberty Cap half cent was based on Agustin Dupre's Libertas Americana medal. Half cents struck between 1794 and 1797 bear another Liberty Cap design, this one facing right, and issued in Plain Edge, Lettered Edge and Gripped Edge varieties. From 1800 to 1808 the Draped Bust design was used on half cents. All half cents bearing those dates are Plain Edge varieties. The Classic Head design was used on half cents struck between 1809-1836. From 1849 to 1857, a Coronet design with Plain Edge was used. All half cents have a wreath on the reverse. The key dates in the series are 1793; 1796, No Pole; 1802/0, Reverse of 1800; and 1831.
Liberty Cap, right half cent | |
| Date of authorization: | April 2, 1792 |
| Dates of issue: | 1794-1797 |
| Designers: | (Large Head): Robert Scot (Small Head): Scot-John Gardner |
| Engraver: | Robert Scot |
| Diameter: | 23.50 mm/0.93 inch |
| Weight: | 1794-1795: 6.74 grams/0.22 ounce 1795-1797: 5.44 grams/0.18 ounce |
| Metallic content: | 100% copper |
| Edge: | 1794-1795: Lettered (two hundred for a dollar) 1795 (Type of 1796): Plain 1796: Plain 1797: Most Plain, Some Lettered, Some Gripped |
| Mint mark: | None |
Marketplace
Public Auctions
| Name | Grade | Price | Date | Firm | Lot Number | Certified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1793 1/2 C -- Scratches -- NGC Details. | G-4 | $2,115.00 | April 2013 | Heritage Auctions | 1044 | NGC Details |
| 1793 1/2 C XF45 NGC. | EF-45 | $18,800.00 | April 2013 | Heritage Auctions | 4108 | NGC |
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Auctions
- 1857 H10C -- Improperly Cleaned -- NGC Details. XF. NGC Census: (6/735). PCGS $36
- 1878 7/8TF $1 Strong MS62 NGC. NGC Census: (867/2597). PCGS $153
- 1936 50C Columbia MS65 NGC. NGC Census: (594/582). PCGS $188
- 1900-O $1 MS66 NGC. CAC. NGC Census: (973/71). PCGS $411
- (2)1942 50C MS64 NGC. $108
- 1886 $1 MS63 NGC. NGC Census: (29316/75360). PCGS $62
- 1931-S 1C -- Rev Damage -- NGC Details. VF. NGC Census: (182/2384). PCGS $40
- 1873 10C Arrows -- Improperly Cleaned -- NGC Details. AU. NGC Census: (8/131). PCGS $129
- 1873 10C Closed 3, No Arrows -- Environmental Damage -- NGC Details. VF. NGC Census: (0/38). PCGS $23
- 1921 $1 MS65 NGC. NGC Census: (7824/547). PCGS $112
- 1857 H10C -- Improperly Cleaned -- NGC Details. AU. NGC Census: (11/709). PCGS $50
- 1898-O $1 MS63 NGC. NGC Census: (14590/44421). PCGS $60
- 1903 $1 MS63 NGC. NGC Census: (2120/7142). PCGS $74
- 1892-CC $1 VF20 NGC. NGC Census: (43/4470). PCGS $223
- 1911-D $20 MS65 NGC. NGC Census: (1908/534). PCGS $2,291
- 1867 3CN PR64 PCGS. PCGS $470
- 1859-O H10C AU55 NGC. NGC Census: (6/93). PCGS $176
- 1888-S $1 -- Improperly Cleaned -- NGC Details. XF. NGC Census: (25/3637). PCGS $112
- 1946-D 50C MS65 NGC. NGC Census: (6277/2224). PCGS $89
- 1915 10C -- Obv Improperly Cleaned -- NGC Details. UNC. NGC Census: (0/258). PCGS $132
All Categories
Half Cent
- Liberty Cap Left Half Cent
- Liberty Cap Right Half Cent
- Draped Bust Half Cent
- Classic Head Half Cent
- Coronet Half Cent
Cent
- Flowing Hair Large Cent, Chain Reverse
- Flowing Hair Large Cent, Wreath Reverse
- Liberty Cap Large Cent
- Draped Bust Large Cent
- Classic Head Large Cent
- Coronet Large Cent
- Flying Eagle Cent
- Indian Head Cent
- Lincoln Cent
2 Cents
3 Cents
5 Cents
- Shield 5 Cents
- Liberty Head 5 Cents
- Indian Head (Buffalo) 5 Cents
- Jefferson 5 Cents
- Half Disme Pattern
- Flowing Hair Half Dime
- Draped Bust, Small Eagle Half Dime
- Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle Half Dime
- Capped Bust Half Dime
- Seated Liberty Half Dime
Dime
- Draped Bust Dime
- Capped Bust Dime
- Seated Liberty Dime
- Barber Dime
- Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) Dime
- Roosevelt Dime
20 cents
Quarter
- Draped Bust, Small Eagle Quarter Dollar
- Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle Quarter Dollar
- Capped Bust Quarter Dollar
- Seated Liberty Quarter Dollar
- Barber Quarter Dollar
- Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar
- Washington Quarter Dollar
- America the Beautiful
Half Dollar
- Flowing Hair Half Dollar
- Draped Bust, Small Eagle Half Dollar
- Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle Half Dollar
- Capped Bust Half Dollar
- Seated Liberty Half Dollar
- Barber Half Dollar
- Walking Liberty Half Dollar
- Franklin Half Dollar
- Kennedy Half Dollar
- Modern Commemoratives 1982-2013
Dollar
- Flowing Hair Dollar
- Draped Bust, Small Eagle Dollar
- Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle Dollar
- Seated Liberty Dollar
- Trade Dollar
- Morgan Dollar
- Peace Dollar
- Eisenhower Dollar
- Susan B. Anthony Dollar
- Sacagawea/Native American Dollar
- Gold Dollar (All Three "Types")
- Presidential Dollars
- Modern Commemoratives 1982-2013
- Gobrecht Dollar
- American Eagles
2.50 dollar
- Capped Bust $2.50 Quarter Eagle
- Capped Draped Bust $2.50 Quarter Eagle
- Capped Head $2.50 Quarter Eagle
- Classic Head $2.50 Quarter Eagle
- Coronet $2.50 Quarter Eagle
- Indian Head $2.50 Quarter Eagle
3 dollar
5 dollar
- Capped Bust, Small Eagle $5 Half Eagle
- Capped Bust, Heraldic Eagle $5 Half Eagle
- Capped Draped Bust $5 Half Eagle
- Capped Head $5 Half Eagle
- Classic Head $5 Half Eagle
- Coronet Head $5 Half Eagle
- Indian Head $5 Half Eagle
- Modern Commemoratives 1982-2013
- American Eagles
- American Buffalo
10 dollar
- Capped Bust, Small Eagle $10 Eagle
- Capped Bust, Heraldic Eagle $10 Eagle
- Coronet Head $10 Eagle
- Indian Head $10 Eagle
- Modern Commemoratives 1982-2013
- American Eagles
- American Buffalo
- First Spouse
20 dollar
- Coronet Head $20 Double Eagle
- Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle
- Saint-Gaudens Ultra-High Relief $20 Gold
