Coin Specifications

From 1796 to 1805, the United States Mint issued the Draped Bust Half Dimes. This was the second type for the denomination, which carried the specifications required by the Mint Act of 1792. This series was very short in duration, but made a lasting impression on coin collectors through the creation of a significant rarity.

The obverse portrait of Liberty is said to have been designed by Robert Scot, based on concepts provided by the famous Philadelphia portraitist Gilbert Stuart. Liberty faces right, with hair lightly bound and her bust draped. The reverse design initially depicted a small sized eagle within a circular wreath. This was later changed to a heraldic eagle with a ribbon in its beak, an olive branch and arrows in its talons, stars and clouds above.

Each Draped Bust Half Dime was struck in a composition of 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper. This unusually specific ratio would not be adjusted to the more familiar 90% silver, 10% copper until the final year of the following series in 1837. The coins had a diameter of 16.5 mm, which would be reduced to 15.5, again in the subsequent series.

All coins were struck at the early Philadelphia Mint and carried a reeded edge. It’s worth noting that the denomination did not appear anywhere on the coin, as was usually the case with these early U.S. coin series.

Draped Bust Half Dime Coin Specifications

half dimes draped bust

The Seated Liberty Half Dimes represented the last of the silver half dime denomination. The five cent nickel had been introduced in 1866 with the Shield Nickel, and less than ten years later, the last silver half dimes were struck in 1873. During the course of the final half dime series, the silver content was reduced.

The obverse of the Liberty Seated Half Dime features the allegorical figure Liberty seated on a rock, as the name suggests, at various points in the series, the surrounding fields are empty, contain thirteen stars, or contain the motto “United States of America.” The reverse contains a wreath with the denomination spelled out in the center. This wreath was changed significantly later in the series.

The original composition consisted of 90% silver and 10% copper with a weight of 1.34 grams. In 1853, the weight of the coins was changed to 1.24 grams. To indicate the coins with the new composition, arrows were placed to each side of the date for coins with the new measure.

Seated Liberty Half Dime Coin Specifications

half dimes Seated Liberty