Draped Bust Half Dimes 1796-1805

About This Series

Among the smallest silver coins produced by the early United States Mint, Draped Bust half dimes measured just 16.5mm in diameter and weighed a mere 1.35 grams — tiny coins that saw hard use in the cash-dependent commerce of the young republic. The Small Eagle reverse (1796-1797) preceded the Heraldic Eagle type (1800-1805), with no half dimes struck in 1798 or 1799 due to the Mint's focus on larger denominations and limited die-sinking capacity. The 1802 is the series' major rarity, with a mintage of just 3,060 pieces creating one of the lowest production figures for any regular-issue U.S. coin — surviving examples command five-figure prices even in well-worn condition. The Valentine reference catalogs die varieties throughout the series, and specialists pursue these tiny coins with scholarly intensity. Struck in .8924 fine silver, these half dimes circulated as the smallest fractional silver coins available, complementing the half dollar, quarter, and dime in a decimal system still finding its footing alongside Spanish colonial coinage. High-grade examples are genuinely elusive because the coins' diminutive size made them vulnerable to loss and their soft silver composition showed wear quickly. The series documents the early Mint's struggle to supply the full range of denominations authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792.

Series Information