Half Dime

In the minds of many people, the term “five-cent coin” is synonymous with the nickel. However, in America’s early years, such a coin was called a Half Dime.

The first pattern of Half Dime Coins were made in 1792. These are quite valuable today, as only about 1500 were made. The obverse side showed a Liberty (the female personification of the concept) with wild, flowing hair, and the other side showed a small eagle. However, as with early pennies, this depiction of Liberty did not prove popular, since her haggard, manic appearance stirred up negative implications—not at all fitting for the personification of a national ideal. She was given the new design known as the Draped Bust, which included both clothes and more orderly hair with charming curls and a large ribbon. In 1800, the size of the eagle was increased, so nickels after this period have the Large Eagle design on their reverse. After the 1805-1829 moratorium on half dime coin production, Liberty returned in her Capped Bust incarnation. The half dime coin was made of copper and silver, and was about 1.35 grams in mass.

As far as dates go, there really is no “wrong” year for early Half Dime Coins. Any Half Dime, no matter the date, is quite a good investment. However, some years are, of course, much more valuable than others. As you might expect, one of the pattern coins from 1792 would fetch a pretty penny. A coin from 1802 is also quite expensive, perhaps even more so than the pattern coin. However, do not expect to stumble across one of these while trawling the usual auction websites. You are more likely to find them at “live” auction houses that attract millionaires as clientele. Still, you may find coins from any of the other years on sites like eBay.

Capped Bust Half Dime

Half Dime Fair Market Values in U.S. Dollars (1794-1873)

Date/Type	G4	VG8	F12	VF20	XF40	AU50	AU53	AU55	AU58	MS60
Flowing Hair
**1794	$1,140	$1,500	$2,580	$5,160	$6,690	$9,690	$10,090	$12,310	$14,310	$16,880
*1795	$990	$1,290	$1,890	$3,190	$5,810	$8,310	$8,500	$8,750	$9,310	$12,500
Draped Bust
**1796 6 over 5	$1,230	$1,470	$2,580	$3,960	$8,810	$11,940	$13,130	$16,560	$20,310	$28,130
**1796	$1,200	$1,410	$2,430	$4,620	$8,280	$11,190	$11,560	$12,190	$14,060	$19,380
**1796 "LIKERTY"	$1,200	$1,770	$2,580	$4,140	$8,310	$11,500	$11,810	$12,810	$17,310	$21,880
**1797 15 Stars	$1,170	$1,380	$2,430	$4,200	$7,810	$11,060	$11,440	$12,060	$12,500	$16,560
**1797 16 Stars	$1,350	$1,620	$2,700	$4,620	$8,280	$11,500	$12,810	$13,190	$15,000	$18,440
**1797 13 Stars	$1,620	$2,310	$3,600	$9,780	$16,250	$20,310	$21,880	$26,880	$46,880	$56,250
Heraldic Eagle
*1800	$930	$1,170	$1,740	$2,690	$5,690	$8,560	$9,190	$9,560	$11,810	$14,690
*1800 "LIBEKTY"	$990	$1,310	$1,920	$3,190	$6,190	$10,630	$10,940	$11,810	$13,750	$16,880
*1801	$990	$1,200	$1,800	$3,310	$6,130	$8,560	$9,380	$9,690	$12,060	$18,130
***1802	$26,100	$39,000	$54,000	$85,630	$206,250	$343,750	$375,000	$406,250	--	$500,000
**1803 Large 8	$1,170	$1,260	$1,770	$2,440	$6,090	$8,560	$9,380	$9,690	$12,440	$15,000
**1803 Small 8	$1,260	$2,580	$3,780	$4,810	$9,690	$14,060	$15,630	$20,630	$24,380	--
**1805	$1,140	$1,380	$2,220	$3,560	$8,440	$15,630	$18,130	$23,440	$46,880	$65,630
Capped Bust
1829 Capped Bust	$45	$49	$61	$90	$180	$240	$264	$288	$324	$390
1829 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$4,380
1830	$46	$51	$62	$90	$174	$216	$252	$300	$330	$420
1831	$44	$49	$63	$90	$168	$228	$270	$300	$318	$390
1831 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$4,380
1832	$45	$49	$62	$90	$180	$234	$252	$270	$330	$408
1833	$44	$51	$61	$92	$180	$235	$246	$300	$336	$408
1834	$45	$51	$61	$90	$162	$222	$258	$270	$360	$400
1835	$46	$52	$61	$90	$174	$210	$252	$282	$312	$378
1836	$44	$52	$61	$92	$174	$220	$246	$258	$318	$378
1837 Small 5c	$45	$53	$69	$104	$240	$280	$330	$390	$570	$990
1837 Large 5c	$44	$49	$63	$92	$174	$234	$252	$330	$390	$450
Liberty Seated No Stars
1837 Small Date	$33	$45	$69	$124	$252	$438	$450	$480	$528	$630
1837 Large Date	$33	$45	$69	$124	$240	$390	$420	$450	$510	$570
*1838 O	$138	$219	$305	$750	$1,200	$1,530	$1,800	$2,460	$3,780	$4,680
Stars No Drapery
1838	$17	$20	$23	$30	$71	$132	$144	$186	$222	$270
1838 Small Stars	$23	$36	$58	$104	$190	$306	$336	$390	$540	$690
1839	$16	$18	$24	$35	$67	$156	$168	$198	$252	$288
1839 O	$18	$21	$25	$46	$86	$210	$240	$270	$390	$630
1840 No Drapery	$16	$18	$22	$30	$75	$162	$180	$216	$270	$288
1840 O No Drapery	$21	$23	$28	$52	$132	$360	$450	$660	$870	$1,690
Stars Obverse
1840 Drapery	$32	$37	$68	$90	$184	$312	$384	$408	$480	$528
1840 O Drapery	$38	$52	$132	$270	$880	$1,290	$1,710	$3,410	$5,530	$6,690
1841	$14	$17	$20	$25	$53	$115	$120	$138	$150	$168
1841 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$3,880
1841 O	$18	$22	$30	$46	$150	$378	$402	$444	$510	$1,020
1842	$14	$17	$20	$25	$55	$115	$118	$126	$144	$156
1842 O	$28	$45	$75	$190	$480	$840	$1,050	$1,530	$1,770	$2,000
1843	$14	$18	$21	$25	$55	$115	$126	$144	$162	$192
1844	$14	$17	$21	$29	$58	$118	$132	$162	$180	$192
1844 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
1844 O	$69	$104	$201	$510	$1,140	$2,250	$2,730	$3,060	$3,780	$5,440
1845	$14	$17	$20	$25	$52	$115	$126	$132	$156	$168
*1846	$495	$630	$800	$1,860	$3,210	$5,460	$6,450	$7,810	$9,810	$14,380
1847	$14	$17	$20	$26	$60	$110	$115	$126	$144	$168
1848 Medium Date	$18	$21	$26	$38	$69	$168	$180	$204	$258	$300
1848 Large Date	$16	$22	$38	$52	$186	$264	$300	$360	$432	$480
1848 O	$15	$18	$30	$44	$180	$300	$360	$420	$480	$540
1849 9 over 6	--	$21	$31	$54	$82	$240	$264	$288	$390	$540
1849 9 over 8	$18	$23	$39	$68	$138	$216	$258	$330	$420	$620
1849	$16	$20	$24	$30	$64	$132	$144	$180	$240	$258
1849 O	$25	$58	$104	$270	$630	$1,170	$1,260	$1,410	$1,800	$2,690
1850	$14	$17	$20	$25	$48	$120	$126	$138	$150	$180
1850 O	$15	$18	$29	$55	$132	$270	$300	$360	$450	$600
1851	$14	$17	$20	$25	$48	$110	$126	$150	$210	$228
1851 O	$15	$18	$28	$37	$78	$204	$240	$282	$330	$420
1852	$14	$17	$20	$28	$60	$115	$120	$132	$144	$162
1852 O	$26	$39	$71	$127	$316	$480	$540	$630	$870	$1,080
1853 No Arrows	$26	$36	$60	$95	$190	$372	$408	$480	$540	$630
*1853 O No Arrows	$224	$288	$420	$750	$1,470	$3,000	$3,310	$4,340	$6,300	$7,690
Arrows at Date
1853 Arrows at Date	$15	$20	$22	$29	$58	$132	$138	$150	$168	$198
1853 O Arrows	$16	$21	$23	$30	$67	$138	$160	$192	$270	$330
1854	$15	$20	$22	$28	$58	$132	$144	$168	$186	$210
1854 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
1854 O	$16	$21	$23	$30	$67	$162	$180	$222	$270	$324
1855	$15	$20	$22	$29	$58	$132	$138	$150	$162	$198
1855 O	$18	$24	$31	$61	$138	$264	$282	$300	$540	$660
Stars Obverse
1856 Stars Obverse	$14	$17	$20	$24	$52	$107	$112	$132	$144	$156
1856 O	$15	$20	$22	$37	$77	$222	$276	$330	$372	$480
1857	$14	$17	$20	$24	$54	$114	$120	$132	$144	$162
1857 O	$15	$18	$22	$31	$63	$168	$186	$216	$270	$300
1858	$14	$17	$20	$24	$52	$95	$113	$120	$132	$156
1858 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$570	$620
1858 Over Inverted Date	$36	$45	$63	$127	$230	$330	$360	$408	$450	$600
1858 O	$14	$17	$22	$35	$61	$150	$168	$180	$210	$222
1859	$14	$18	$23	$36	$58	$132	$144	$162	$168	$180
1859 O	$16	$21	$24	$49	$132	$192	$210	$234	$258	$264
Legend Obverse
1860 Legend Obv.	$13	$16	$18	$22	$40	$72	$90	$122	$138	$150
1860 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$264
1860 O	$14	$17	$20	$25	$48	$96	$108	$113	$132	$168
1861	$13	$16	$17	$21	$41	$79	$86	$106	$120	$162
1861 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$300
1861 1 over 0	--	--	$52	$92	$219	$390	$450	$480	$570	$690
1862	$13	$17	$22	$29	$41	$79	$92	$106	$126	$156
1862 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$300
*1863	$127	$167	$239	$330	$384	$510	$528	$552	$576	$600
1863 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$450
1863 S	$23	$31	$40	$67	$110	$312	$372	$408	$432	$480
1864	--	--	$480	$600	$740	$870	$920	$970	$1,030	$1,080
1864 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$450
1864 S	$39	$48	$82	$115	$270	$420	$450	$510	$660	$750
*1865	$305	$345	$454	$558	$580	$660	$690	$720	$760	$900
1865 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$360
1865 S	$23	$25	$35	$61	$184	$480	$510	$600	$650	$840
1866	$300	$330	$380	$450	$580	$740	$760	$780	$840	$870
1866 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$360
1866 S	$23	$28	$35	$62	$138	$330	$342	$420	$480	$540
1867	--	$485	$518	$558	$620	$870	$920	$1,010	$1,110	$1,170
1867 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$420
1867 S	$23	$24	$37	$60	$98	$294	$324	$348	$480	$600
1868	$36	$58	$93	$167	$247	$372	$384	$402	$480	$570
1868 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$432
1868 S	$13	$16	$24	$32	$60	$150	$180	$216	$258	$288
1869	$13	$18	$22	$29	$55	$113	$132	$150	$162	$192
1869 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$270
1869 S	$14	$17	$21	$28	$63	$145	$174	$205	$252	$300
1870	$13	$16	$17	$20	$37	$78	$84	$96	$114	$132
1871	$13	$16	$17	$20	$33	$66	$77	$95	$110	$144
1871 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$250
1871 S	$14	$21	$35	$45	$68	$168	$192	$210	$228	$252
1872	$13	$16	$17	$20	$35	$66	$90	$98	$108	$132
1872 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$265
1872 S; S Above Bow	$14	$17	$18	$24	$39	$66	$90	$96	$110	$120
1872 S; S Below Bow	$13	$16	$17	$22	$37	$66	$82	$90	$108	$115
1873	$14	$17	$18	$22	$38	$70	$85	$104	$110	$126
1873 Proof	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	$270
1873 S	$14	$17	$20	$28	$45	$88	$96	$114	$120	$132