Major types of US half dimes

Major types of US half dimes

Major types of US half dimes

Half dimes appear in four major types, which we discuss in this article.

Flowing Hair (17941795)

Like the first large cents of 1793, the first half dimes were mocked because of Liberty's wild hair and, in the case of the half dime, because of the scrawny eagle on the back of the coin. This design type was discontinued after only two years.

Draped Bust (17961805)

The year 1796 saw a wholesale revision of U.S. coins, using the Draped Bust design that first appeared on silver dollars in 1795. The half dime features the smallest version of this design type, but it's just as beautiful on this coin as it is on the larger coins. In 1800, the still-scrawny eagle on the back of the coin was replaced with a larger eagle with outspread wings and a shield on its chest. This eagle-and-shield back was adapted from the Great Seal of the United States. The Draped Bust design lasted less than ten years on the half dime, but it includes the elusive 1802, a classic U.S. rarity at a minimum of $30,000.

Capped Bust (18291837)

No half dimes were minted between 1805 and 1829, which represents a long time in coin years. When the half dime reappeared in 1829, it featured the Capped Bust design that had already been in use on other coins since 1807. This is a great series to collect because just nine dates are in the series, and all are equally common.

Seated Liberty (18371873)

On this design type, Liberty sits on a large rock with her dress draped all around her. With her right hand, she holds a shield in front of her and, in her other arm she cradles a staff with a plain freedman's cap stuck over the tip of the staff. This series lasted nearly 40 years. Were it not for the unique 1870-S half dime at $750,000, you could expect to complete a date and mintmark set of these coins.

From 1853 to 1855, small arrowheads were added on either side of the date to let the public know that the weight of the half dimes was being reduced. This was important at a time when people were concerned that their money contained the full value in metal. In 1859, the words United States of America were moved from the back of the coin to the front. A few prototype coins were made with an unusual combination of dies, neither of which had United States of Americaon them. Collectors eagerly seek these coins without a country.

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