Draped Bust Half Cents

(1800-1808)

The half cent was America’s unwanted coin from its introduction in 1793 until its official demise in 1857. Over this 60 year span, few of the coins circulated freely, and then mainly in the larger cities of the rapidly expanding nation. Coin collectors long neglected the denomination. Little-sought and studied even less, the coins were aptly characterized by numismatist Dr. Warren A. Lapp as the stepchildren of U.S. coinage, the “little half sisters.”

First issued in 1793 with the Flowing Hair design, they were replaced the following year by Engraver Robert Scot’s Liberty Cap motif. They went through design, weight and edge-marking changes much like those of contemporary cents. The last Liberty Cap and Pole half cents bore the date 1797 but were probably struck through 1799.

Half Cents dated 1800 were the first to bear Scot&rsq.... (Expand Text)

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1808/7 DRAPED BUST 1/2C XF40 Brown PCGS

VERY CLEAR OVERDATE. LOVELY CHOCOLATE BROWN PATINA. EVENLY WORN PLANCHET. COHEN-2. RARITY-3.
$7,700.00

1804 DRAPED BUST 1/2C, CROSSLET 4, STEMS MS65+ Brown PCGS

CROSSLET 4, STEMS. GEM GLOSSY BROWN SURFACES. TIED FOR HIGHEST GRADED. CAC.
$35,750.00

1806 DRAPED BUST 1/2C, LARGE 6, STEMS MS63 Red PCGS

LARGE 6, STEMS. VERY CHOICE RED LUSTROUS SURFACES. ONLY TWO DESIGNATED RED COINS GRADED HIGHER AT PCGS. CAC.
$22,000.00

1806 DRAPED BUST 1/2C, LARGE 6, STEMS MS64+ Red PCGS

LARGE 6, WITH STEMS. C-4. THIS IS THE SOLE HIGHEST GRADED FOR THE DATE AND TIED WITH ONE OTHER COIN FOR HIGHEST GRADED FOR THE DRAPED BUST TYPE. CAC.
$60,500.00

1808/7 DRAPED BUST 1/2C AU58 Brown PCGS

VERY RARE OVERDATE. RARITY-3. ONLY ONE GRADED HIGHER AT PCGS A MS64+ THAT SOLD FOR $483k IN 2014. C-3.
$93,500.00