Saturday 25th May 2013

Half Cents Menu

Overview of U.S. Half Cent

Equal to 1/200th of a dollar, the first half cent (the smallest denomination coin ever struck by the U.S. Mint) was struck in July 1793. The Spanish 8 Reale (or piece of eight) was worth one U.S. Dollar. Since change for the 8 Reale was made by breaking off one of the eight parts of the coin, this gave it a value of 12 1/2 Cents. The half cent coin was issued to make proper change or conversion betwee the Eight Reale bits and the newly adopted decimal coinage of the U.S.

As the Eight Reale disappeared from commerce in North America, the Half Cent proved to be of little use and circulated grudgingly if at all. Often, orders placed with the mint for half cent coins ended up gathering dust in Bank vaults. Many remained in storage at the Mint waiting for orders. After 64 years, the coins were discontinued.

• Liberty Capped
• Type 1 (1793)
• Type 2 (1794)
• Type 3 (1795-1797)
• Draped Bust (1800-1808)
• Classic Head (1809-1835)
• Braided Hair (1840-1857)