Half Cent
Half Cent
Though the concept of half cent may seem odd to us today, half cent coins actually made a great deal of sense during the time they were first made during the George Washington presidency. At that time, many people earned around a dollar a day, which should give some idea of the prices of basic goods. There was actually a relatively large number of such coins made between the years of 1793 and 1857, which may seem like bad news if you are trying to find valuable coins (rarity adds value). However, not all half cent coins are alike.
Half cent coins that were minted in certain years are rarer and therefore more sought after than others. These particular half cent coins have remained valuable for the past several decades, and you can count on them to continue to be a good investment as their value rises over time. Three years to watch out for are 1793, 1796 and 1802. All these half cent coins are currently worth thousands of dollars. A half-cent coin in good condition from the year 1796 can fetch the price of $20,000.
In general, half cent coins from this period in American history tend to be about the size of a contemporary quarter. They are circular and 23 ½ mm across, with a mass between 5 to 7 grams, and are made of copper. The head of the half cent coin is the profile of the female personification of liberty. The exact appearance of this profile (facial features, hairstyle, etc.) changes a bit over time. However, the word “Liberty” is stamped above her head, and below her throat is the year the half cent was minted.
On the reverse side of the coin is the phrase “Half Cent,” surrounded by a wreath. Below the wreath is the fraction 1/200, denoting, of course, the fraction of the dollar represented by the coin. In half cent coins stamped in later years, this fraction no longer appears. Along the outer edge of the half cent are stamped the words “United States of America.”
Half Cent Fair Market Values in U.S. Dollars (1793-1857)
Date/Type G4 VG8 F12 VF20 XF40 AU50 AU53 AU55 AU58 MS60
Liberty Cap
**1793 Head Left BN $3,160 $4,940 $8,940 $13,440 $21,690 $27,810 $31,880 $35,810 $43,130 $51,880
*1794 Head Right BN $600 $940 $1,530 $2,790 $5,590 $7,690 $8,560 $10,410 $13,130 $18,130
*1795 Lt.Ed.W/Pole BN $528 $640 $1,190 $2,370 $4,090 $5,720 $6,840 $10,190 $12,310 $14,060
*1795 Lt.Ed. Punct. Dt. BN $540 $1,110 $2,190 $3,590 $6,560 $7,690 $8,440 $11,970 $15,940 $20,630
*1795 Pl.Ed. No Pole BN $468 $750 $1,410 $2,130 $4,190 $6,190 $6,530 $8,160 $9,940 $12,060
***1796 With Pole BN $19,380 $22,500 $34,380 $45,630 $60,630 $74,380 $85,630 $115,630 $134,380 --
***1796 No Pole BN $20,630 $36,560 $69,380 $80,630 $90,630 -- -- -- -- --
**1797 Lettered Edge BN $1,880 $3,250 $5,560 $12,940 $23,130 -- -- -- -- --
*1797 Plain Edge BN $510 $720 $1,260 $2,090 $4,470 $5,560 $7,910 $9,970 $14,380 $16,880
***1797 Gripped Edge BN $20,310 $41,880 $54,000 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
*1797 1 Abv. 1, Pl. Ed. BN $480 $600 $1,080 $1,740 $4,060 $5,560 $6,090 $9,310 $12,310 $15,000
Draped Bust
1800 Draped Bust BN $70 $107 $168 $288 $570 $810 $920 $1,260 $1,770 $2,160
***1802 2/0 Rev. of 1800 BN $19,500 $31,880 $38,130 $51,880 $59,380 -- -- -- -- --
*1802 2/0 2nd Rev. BN $930 $1,980 $4,690 $7,340 $14,380 -- -- -- -- --
1803 BN $67 $82 $180 $420 $940 $1,470 $1,780 $2,090 $2,970 $3,940
1804 Plain 4 Stems BN $78 $150 $198 $540 $1,590 $4,740 $5,310 $6,090 -- --
1804 Pl. 4 Stemless BN $60 $82 $110 $198 $360 $570 $660 $700 $780 $1,030
1804 Cr. 4 Stems BN $61 $84 $106 $210 $390 $660 $750 $790 $1,170 $1,750
1804 Cr. 4 Stemless BN $68 $86 $108 $210 $450 $760 $800 $870 $1,050 $1,410
1804 Spiked Chin BN $77 $100 $126 $270 $420 $740 $810 $920 $990 $1,590
1805 Sm. 5 Stemless BN $60 $84 $100 $210 $360 $680 $780 $930 $1,170 $1,380
**1805 Sm. 5 Stems BN $1,110 $1,950 $3,210 $6,780 $11,820 $16,880 $22,190 -- -- --
1805 Lg. 5 Stems BN $60 $79 $97 $222 $480 $850 $1,060 $1,230 $1,740 $2,410
*1806 Sm. 6 Stems BN $270 $480 $800 $1,380 $3,690 $4,660 $5,340 $6,190 $8,130 $10,310
1806 Sm. 6 Stemless BN $65 $96 $113 $210 $360 $630 $750 $810 $1,050 $1,310
1806 Lg. 6 Stems BN $60 $79 $97 $174 $384 $588 $700 $840 $1,110 $1,250
1806 Lg. 6 Stems RB -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $1,440
1807 BN $62 $90 $132 $222 $552 $740 $860 $1,020 $1,170 $2,060
*1808 8 over 7 BN $210 $450 $690 $1,500 $3,660 $9,750 $10,940 $11,880 -- --
1808 BN $62 $82 $106 $192 $510 $1,200 $1,290 $1,780 $1,950 $2,470
Classic Head
1809 Classic Head BN $58 $70 $79 $88 $186 $270 $300 $360 $510 $600
1809 9 over 6 BN $60 $80 $91 $116 $264 $540 $660 $710 $840 $990
1809 Circle Inside 0 BN $66 $79 $115 $330 $630 $870 $940 $1,280 $1,980 $3,310
1810 BN $61 $78 $108 $300 $600 $1,110 $1,220 $1,290 $1,440 $1,630
*1811 BN $300 $760 $1,650 $2,130 $4,920 $6,530 $7,940 $9,280 $10,440 --
1825 BN $54 $70 $83 $98 $228 $360 $408 $480 $540 $700
1826 BN $55 $68 $82 $90 $156 $240 $252 $270 $312 $420
1828 13 Stars BN $55 $71 $78 $85 $114 $168 $192 $228 $240 $258
1828 13 Stars RB -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $300
1828 12 Stars BN $54 $72 $84 $106 $228 $390 $432 $480 $600 $630
1829 BN $52 $68 $73 $80 $108 $180 $192 $216 $252 $288
**1831 BN $3,900 $4,140 $4,470 $7,500 $8,220 $10,800 -- -- -- --
1831 Proof BN -- -- -- -- -- $13,800 -- -- -- $16,880
1832 BN $52 $67 $73 $77 $98 $150 $162 $192 $228 $252
1833 BN $52 $67 $74 $82 $113 $156 $168 $192 $228 $252
1834 BN $52 $68 $74 $79 $101 $162 $174 $198 $222 $246
1834 RB -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $270
1834 Proof BN -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $3,180
1835 BN $52 $67 $73 $80 $98 $156 $168 $180 $228 $246
1835 RB -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $258
1835 Proof BN -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $5,410
**1836 Proof BN $3,040 -- -- -- $3,660 $3,810 $3,930 $4,110 $4,290 $4,940
Braided Hair
1840 Br. Hair Prf. BN -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $3,690
1840 Proof Res. BN -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $5,000
1841 Proof BN -- -- -- -- $2,130 $2,490 $2,580 $2,790 $3,190 $3,660
1843 Proof BN -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $2,820 $4,380 $5,000
1844 Proof BN -- -- -- -- -- $3,600 -- -- -- $5,000
1846 Proof BN -- -- -- -- $3,170 -- -- -- -- --
1847 Proof Res. BN -- -- -- -- -- $2,580 $2,730 -- -- --
1848 Proof Res. BN -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $2,380 $2,590 --
1849 Sm.Dt. Prf. Res. BN -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $3,310
1849 Lg. Date BN $49 $64 $72 $81 $110 $186 $210 $240 $360 $408
1850 BN $51 $66 $69 $85 $138 $192 $222 $264 $330 $432
1850 Proof BN -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $2,910
1851 BN $49 $63 $67 $76 $92 $144 $156 $180 $198 $228
1852 Proof Res. BN -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $3,310
1853 BN $49 $63 $67 $72 $94 $138 $150 $180 $222 $234
1854 BN $51 $64 $68 $72 $86 $138 $150 $168 $180 $210
1854 RB -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $228
1855 BN $49 $63 $67 $72 $86 $144 $150 $168 $204 $216
1855 RB -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $204 $270
1856 BN $51 $66 $68 $78 $95 $162 $174 $180 $210 $222
1856 Proof BN -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- $2,030
1857 BN $55 $71 $84 $98 $138 $210 $222 $246 $270 $300
Half Cent Coins on eBay
1807 Draped Bust Half Cent! Priced to Move!
3 Bids
US $22.00
16m
CAPITAL PLASTICS HALF CENT HOLDER 3.5"X3.5"
0 Bid
US $.99
46m
1809 CLASSIC HEAD HALF CENT W DAMAGE L@@K!! 5049
9 Bids
US $26.30
56m
1805 F VF Glossy Draped Bust Half Cent AU1510
US $105.00
1h 10m
1811 Fine Classic Head Half Cent AU1510
US $355.00
1h 11m
1805 Draped Bust Half Cent PCGS VF-25 Small 5, No Stems
US $350.00
4h 9m
1834 VG 1/2 Cent
US $75.00
10h 3m
1786 COIN US COLONIAL VOC NEW YORK PENNY UTRECHT
1 Bid
US $.99
10h 15m
1834 HALF PENNY BU ERROR-DIE CLASH FRONT AND BACK
12 Bids
US $120.99
10h 56m
1751 COIN US COLONIAL VOC NEW YORK PENNY HOLLAND
2 Bids
US $1.75
11h 1m
