Half Dime 1797 Draped Bust, Coin from United States - detailed information

The Half Dime is an American silver coin with a face value of five cents which was minted between 1794 and 1873. These coins were much smaller than dimes in diameter and thickness, appearing to be "half dimes" and are called so, even though until 1837 this was not actually spelled out on the coins themselves.

After the initial issue of a "Half Disme" in 1794 (note the additional S in the name) - which many people consider a pattern, the "Flowing Hair" type was only struck for two years and was replaced by this Draped Bust half dime. It features on the obverse the draped bust of Miss Liberty, giving the design its name. The design is the same as on the larger denominations of the same period and, given that the value and denomination are not written on the coin, they have to be inferred by size only. The obverse was paired with two different reverses, a standing eagle (in 1796 and 1797 only) and the "heraldic eagle" from the Coat of Arms of the United State (1800 to 1805).

Coins of this type were only issued until 1805, then no half dimes were struck at all until 1829 when the denomination was resumed with the Capped Bust obverse and a new eagle reverse. The silver format of the half dime was discontinued in 1873, but the coins have never been demonetised and are still legal tender. This, of course, is of academic interest only, as their numismatic value is enormously higher than their face value.