Liberty Cap Half Cent
It sounds a bit odd today, but the US government once issued a coin that was worth less than a penny-the half cent.
The U.S. half cent, made of copper, began being produced on April 2, 1792 and during the 64 years of circulation there were five basic design types of the coin. The half cent coin was made at the Philadelphia Mint and carried no Mint mark.
The designers and engravers of this coin were some of the most well known designers and engravers at the U.S. Mint: John Gardner, Robert Scot, Gilbert Stuart, Adam Eckfeldt, John Reich and Christian Gobrecht. The same designs that were used on the half cent were also used on other denominations later on for many years.
The Liberty Cap half cent coin in 1793 has a lettered edge that reads two hundred for a dollar. The coin features a bust of Liberty facing left. A Liberty Cap on a pole is on her right shoulder which gives the design its name, the Liberty Cap. Agustin Dupre’s Libertas Americana medal was the inspiration for the design of this coin.
The half cents that were produced between the years 1794 and 1797 have another Liberty Cap Design. This one is facing right and was issued in Plain Edge, Lettered Edge and a few Gripped Edge variations.
The Draped Bust design was used between 1800 until 1808 and all are of the Plain Edge variety.
Between 1909 and 1836 the Classic Head design was used on the half cents. A Coronet design with a Plain Edge were used from the years 1849 to 1857. All half cents have a wreath on the reverse side.
In spite of the fact that the half cents were issued for over 60 years, they were America’s unwanted coins. They were of little use to people, circulated poorly and were often kept in dead storage at the Mint waiting for the infrequent request for them at new banks. The production of the half cent coins at times was interrupted by the shortage of copper and from lack of demand. The poorest people were the biggest users of the half cent which measured approximately 22 millimeters and has a weight of 6.74 grams.
For generations coin collectors ignored the half cents but today the Liberty Cap Half Cent is a highly sought-after coin.
