Bust Half Cent (1800-1807) - Circulated

The Half Cent was first authorized for mintage by the Coinage Act of 1792, and was produced from 1793-1857. Made out of 100% pure copper, and was valued at two-hundredths of a dollar. Its large size put it at just smaller than the modern quarter with diameters ranging from 22 to 23.5 mm.

The first design is called the Liberty cap, it was minded from 1793-1797, but during that time the observe bust switched from left-facing to right-facing. In 1797, the planchets became too think for the use of edge lettering, thus resulting in coins from 1795-1797 having no edge lettering. In 1800 the obverse switched to the Draped Bust and was minted from (1800-1807). Then came the Classic head from 1809-1836, which depicted Lady Liberty with long, curly hair, while the reverse depicts the coins denomination and value inside a wreath. The final design was the Braided Hair design, minted until the coins final year, 1857. It featured a slimmer, more youthful looking Lady Liberty, along with the addition of large berries (restrikes have small berries) on the wreath on the reverse of the coin.