Capped Bust Half Dollar
The Capped Bust Half Dollars were minted from 1807 through 1839 with continuous minting of this series with the exception of 1816, the year of the horrendous fire at the Mint.
Draped Bust Half Dollar
The US Mint replaced the youthful Miss Liberty with a more mature and sedate portrait in 1796, one that is referred to as the Draped Bust. The Draped Bust half dollar was minted from that year through 1807.
Flowing Hair Half Dollar
The Flowing Hair Half Dollar was only minted for two years from 1794 to 1795 in the Philadelphia Mint. The 1794 is rare with only 23,464 minted while the 1795 is easier to run across as there were 299,680 made.
Standing Liberty Quarter
Designed by Hermon A. MacNeil, the 1916 to 1930 Standing Liberty quarter’s initial design included a bare-breasted Liberty which was considered to be too revealing for some. Many complaints poured in, forcing a design change in 1917 but the new design was at the other end of the spectrum. The designer dressed Liberty in a coat of mail instead of covering her breasts with the flowing material of her dress. The reverse was also re-designed in 1917 when the eagle was moved to the center and three of the thirteen stars were place under the bird. In 1925 the dates on the Standing Liberty were recessed so they would be resistant to wear.
Barber Quarter
The Barber quarter got its name for the designer, Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber. The bust of Liberty is much like that of the Morgan Dollar, but facing right. She wears a Liberty cap with a laurel wreath and has a ribbon in her hair at the back of her neck. IN GOD WE TRUST is above her head and the date below. There are six stars on the left and seven on the right to represent the thirteen colonies. The designer’s initial B is at the base of Liberty’s neck. On the reverse is the Great Seal of the United States and an eagle with outstretched wings. It holds an olive branch with thirteen leaves in the right claw and thirteen arrows in its left. E PLURIBUS UNUM is on the ribbon that the eagle holds in his beak with thirteen stars in the field.
Seated Liberty Quarter
The Seated Liberty quarter design holds the distinction of being the longest running design for any US silver coin ever minted. Some collectors may think that if they have seen one coin with the design that they have seen them all, but that is not the case.
Half Dimes
Most Americans are probably not aware that the half dime was one of the original coins introduced as soon as the United States began using a coinage system. The half disme as it was called of 1792 was a pattern that was designed by Thomas Birch. Birch was well known for his Birch Cent.
Seated Liberty Half Dime
The US Mint was established in 1792 and the half dime was the very first denomination struck. The half dime went through several changes over the years and are widely sought after by collectors.
Capped Bust Half Dime
In the United States in 1829 there were all classes of people. The average wage for a laborer was eighty cents per day and there were 75,000 people in debtor’s prisons, most for debts of less than twenty dollars. At the new Tretmont Hotel in Boston, a guest could get a private room, four meals and free soap for just $2.00 a day.
Draped Bust Half Dime
In 1793 the US Mint hired banknote plate engraver Robert Scot as the Chief Engraver. Later this decision was regretted as he was egocentric and jealous and hard to get along with. He had no experience designing device punches for coins so he had to learn as he went along in his job. His first try, the Flowing Hair design of 1794 had broken punches and the public was very critical of the design. People said that Liberty was wearing a “fright” wig and that the bird on the reverse looked like a turkey rather than an eagle.
