The American Half Dollar (1794 – 1891)

Images courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions

As part of the early coinage of America, the Half Dollar was a widely used payment method; authorized by the mint Act of April 2, 1792. Half dollar history officially began in 1794, when the first Flowing Hair halves were struck. Issued for just two years, this design's obverse features the profile of Liberty with windswept hair. On the reverse, an eagle with wings raised stands within a wreath. The denomination appears on the edge, shown as FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR.

Varieties have been identified within the first year’s coinage. For example, in some of the earliest coins, Liberty’s lowest curl of hair ends at the second star on the left side of the coin’s obverse. The same curl on subsequent coins is touched by, or aligned with, the lowest star. A great example is available on line from Coin Facts. I also have set a link to PCGS's "Overton" Collection to get an example how large the variety consists of.

Images courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions

1796 – 1807 Saw the introduction of the new rendition of Liberty, with her loose hair tied in a ribbon. The series' original reverse, from 1796-1797, bore a smaller eagle within a wreath. No halves were minted from 1798-1800. When the denomination returned in 1801, the reverse featured a new heraldic eagle design with 13 stars.

Courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions

Partway through 1807, the Draped Bust series was replaced by U.S. Mint Engraver John Reich's Capped Bust design. This series shows Liberty donning a cloth cap on her head. The reverse once again displays a smaller eagle, with a shield. Until 1836, the edge featured the denomination, once again inscribed as FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR.

Courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions

Half dollar history continued in 1839 with the debut of the Liberty Seated series. This handsome design features Liberty seated on a rock, her left hand holding a liberty cap on a pole, and her right hand resting on a shield inscribed LIBERTY. The reverse design depicts an eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows. Amid the religious fervor of the Civil War era, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to the reverse in 1866, and continued through the end of the series in 1891.

As you’ll notice, we end our discussion of the Half Dollar at 1891; not that they were not minted anymore, it is just the Barber Half Dollar, followed by other varieties, lacked any appeal to the author.Half Dollar's allow you as a collector to grow with research into the varieties collecting business, and the resources available make it even easier to expand the collection. A warning, these "graded" varieties do not come cheaply to buyers and should be treated as an investment. Have fun and thanks for stopping by.

Clubs & Associations:

Society of U.S. Pattern Collectors
American Numismatic Association
American Numismatic Society
Coneca

Numismatic Bibliomania Society

Reference:

Littleton Coin Company 1309 Mt. Eustis Road, Littleton, NH 03561