Vital Stats.

• Designer: Uncertain
• Mintmark: None
• Diameter: 22 millimeters
• Edge: NOTE: There are 2 types of the 1795
  1. Lettered "Two hundred for a dollar" until Dec 27 1795
  2. No lettering on edge after Dec 27 1795
• Weight:
• 6.74 grams until Dec 27 1795
• 5.44 grams after Dec 27 1795
• Metals: Copper - 100%

Type 1 Mintage
1793	35,334

Type 1 (pop. 461)
Liberty Facing Left (1793)

The smallest U.S. Coin denomination was the copper half cent, first struck in July 1793. Equal to 1/200th of a dollar, the half cent was far more useful than Americans believe today. One important reason for striking this coin was because the Spanish milled dollar or Piece of Eight could be broken into eight pieces (fractional currency) thus, one bit was worth 12 1/2 cents. Spanish coins were very familiar to Americans and served as the basis for the U.S. silver dollar coin issued in 1794. Since the Spanish fractional one real or bit was equal to 12-1/2 cents in decimal coinage, a half cent was necessary for making "honest change".

Although half cents were issued for more than 60 years, they remained America's unwanted coins. This small denomination may have suffered from identification with the poorest classes: They were supposed to be its biggest users. The coin proved to be of little use, circulated grudgingly if at all, and were often kept in storage at the Mint waiting for infrequent orders from the nation's banks.

Type 2 (pop. 362)
Facing Right / Large Head

The Libertas Americana medal that inspired the 1793 half cent was designed by French medalist Augustin Dupre as a celebration of American victories in the Revolutionary War. But the original design lasted only one year. Some believe the reason for the change was inspired by the continued violence of the French Revolution which caused much concern in America. The Reign of Terror continued, and some 40,000 royalists were executed, many by guillotine.

In 1794, Chief Engraver Robert Scot modified the earlier French inspired design by enlarging the bust of Liberty and having her face right rather than left, also, Scot increased the size of the Phrygian cap on Liberty's pole. On the reverse, the wreath was similar, but without the sprays of berries. While the series has only two major design types (facing left and facing right) it includes numerous varieties. One of the better known varieties is the "punctuated" date of 1795. It is actually an accident by the engraver resulting with a date thatlooks like "1,795".

Liberty Cap half cents possess great appeal for both novice and advanced numismatists. Today they enjoy strong demand from date, die variety and type collectors.

Type 3 (pop. 742)
Facing Right / Small head & no pole

During the four years Liberty Cap half cents were struck, a total of 359,529 pieces were produced. If there were any proofs struck it is not known.

Early copper planchet varied greatly in quality. This results in considerable variation in the quality of each strike. Half Cent characteristics vary from year to year. The coins from 1794 are nearly always deep brown or black. Those from 1795 are usually light brown while half cents from 1796 are again dark brown or even black.

Porosity and planchet flaws are quite common. In 1797 planchet quality was above average for the series.