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.

In 1796 Congress responded to widespread dissatisfaction of the Flowing Hair design and ordered a new design. All denominations at that time in history bore the same design. There were certain features that were mandated to be on each coin: The eagle, the word Liberty, stars, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Chief Engraver Robert Scot transformed a portrait of a society lady into a buxom Miss Liberty. Some say she is the likeness of a socialite from Philadelphia, Ann Willing Bingham. She remained unchanged for several years except for an extra curl that was added to her flowing hair in 1798.

Draped Bust half dollars come in two types: one with a small eagle on the reverse and the other with a large, heraldic eagle. The Draped Bust with the small eagle was replaced in 1801 by the heraldic eagle. This bird was more formal with a shield superimposed on its breast. This new series was short-lived, lasting just six years. By this time the Mint’s total output of the Draped Bust half dollar greatly surpassed the levels of the previous years and for the first time the half dollar was being used by everyone.

The Draped Bust design may very well have been influenced by President George Washington himself. The president was very interested in upgrading the US coinage and may have arranged to have painter Gilbert Stuart prepare this design.

There were fewer than 4,000 Draped Bust/small eagle half dollars struck but in contrast more than 1.6 million Draped Bust/heraldic eagles were minted with 1806 being the year that more than half were produced.