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.

The half dime was authorized in 1792 by Congress. The pattern in 1792 was known as the Martha Washington, the wife of first president George Washington.

In 1794 Robert Scot of the US Mint designed the Flowing Hair style half dime and this was used on the new denomination instead of Birch’s design. Liberty faces right and has flowing hair. There are seven stars to her right and eight behind her. A rather small and undernourished eagle is perched on a cloud on the reverse. The Flowing Hair coin was only struck in 1794 and 1795. The design used in 1796 and 1797 followed artist Gilbert Stuart’s suggestion. Stuart designed the painting of Washington on the current one dollar bill.

The Draped Bust and Small Eagle design were next and both coins had a two year run. In 1802 the Draped Bust and Heraldic Eagle half dime came to be, but are rare. Only 13,010 pieces were struck and there are only 16 known specimens today.

In 1829 the Capped Bust design was adopted and the words FIVE CENTS was used for the first time. An eagle with a shield appeared on the reverse in 1829 and ran through 1837 which was then replaced with the Christian Gobrecht design of Seated Liberty with HALF DIME appearing on the reverse. Stars and drapery were added to the design in 1840. The Seated Liberty design went on with a few minor modifications through the end of the half dime’s production in favor of the nickel 5 cent coin of today.

The half dime saw its final year in 1873 as Congress was moving to revamp the entire coinage system.