Draped Bust Half Cents 1800-1808

About This Series

Robert Scot's Draped Bust portrait, adapted from Gilbert Stuart's drawing of Ann Willing Bingham, graced the half cent denomination during a period when these tiny copper coins played a meaningful role in everyday American commerce. Production was irregular: no half cents were struck in 1801 or 1803, and mintages fluctuated with economic conditions and copper supply. The 1802 is the series' most celebrated rarity, known as the "King of Half Cents" with approximately 20-25 surviving specimens, making it one of the most valuable early American copper coins. The 1805 features Medium 5 and Small 5 varieties, while the 1804 comes in Plain 4 and Crosslet 4 types. Struck in copper at 23.5mm diameter and 5.44 grams, Draped Bust half cents circulated extensively in the early republic, where a half cent retained genuine purchasing power. The Cohen reference catalogs die varieties with characteristic thoroughness, identifying specific die marriages that attract dedicated collectors. High-grade examples are genuinely scarce because these small, soft copper coins wore rapidly in use and many were lost during two centuries of handling. The series connects Scot's most recognizable design to America's smallest denomination, creating diminutive coins with outsized historical significance.

Series Information