Half Cent, Coin Type from United States - detailed information

In 1973 only, the obverse of the half cent featured a bust of the female personification of Liberty facing left, with flowing hair and a Liberty cap on a pole behind her.

In 1794, the design was flipped so that Liberty faced right. This was used until 1797.

After a two-year pause, a new design was minted between 1800 and 1808 featuring the so-called Draped Bust of Liberty, by Robert Scot, Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint.

A fourth design was used between 1809 and 1837, known as the Classic Head. It was sculpted by engraver John Reich, whose version was used on copper coinage; a later re-design by Chief Engraver William Kneass was used on gold coins between 1834 and 1839.

The fifth and final obverse - issued from 1840 to 1857 - was the so-called Braided Hair effigy of Liberty and was designed by Christian Gobrecht, who improved on an earlier model (used for one cent coins) by Robert Scot.

The first reverse (1794 - 1808) has the denomination HALF CENT centrally on two lines, within a laurel wreath; beneath the wreath, the value is also shown as a fraction of a dollar: 1/200. Along the outer edge, the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. There is a decorative beaded border along the rim of the coin.

The second reverse (1809 - 1857) has a re-designed laurel wreath and omits the fractional value.

For coins of other countries denominated as Half Cent, see:
- Half Cent, Sarawak - issued 1863 to 1933, demonetised 1953
- Half Cent, British North Borneo - issued 1885 to 1907, demonetised 1953
- Half Cent, South Africa - issued 1961 to 1983, withdrawn 1984