1792 Bust Half Disme
Base
About This Coin
The 1792 Bust Half Disme is a United States dime from the Bust Half Disme 1792 series. The obverse features Liberty facing left with hair flowing behind, while the reverse displays a small eagle within a wreath. Designed by Attributed to Robert Birch or possibly Robert Scot. Struck in 89.2% silver, 10.8% copper, weighing 1.35 grams, 17.5 mm in diameter, with a diagonally reeded edge. Produced at the Philadelphia Mint. The 1792 Half Disme (five-cent piece) is one of the most historically significant American coins. Tradition holds that George Washington provided his own silver tableware to be melted for the striking, though this account is debated. These coins may have been struck before the Philadelphia Mint was officially established, making them potentially the first coins produced under the authority of the United States government. A foundational piece of American numismatics. Examples in any grade are prized. The coin appears in the Coinage Act of 1792 as an example of the proposed denominations.
