How to Identify the Draped Bust Half Dime

What It Is

The Draped Bust Half Dime succeeded the Flowing Hair type and was struck intermittently from 1796 to 1805, with gaps in 1798, 1799, and 1804 when no half dimes were produced. It shares its "Draped Bust" portrait style with several other early US silver denominations of the period.

Obverse (Front) Design

Liberty is shown in profile facing right, now with visible drapery across her bust rather than a bare shoulder, giving the type its name. "LIBERTY" arcs above, the date sits below, and stars line the border. The star count varies by date: 1796 and 1797 issues show fifteen or sixteen stars, reflecting the changing number of states, while coins from 1800 onward settled on thirteen stars to represent the original states.

Reverse (Back) Design

Two distinct reverse designs appear in this series. The 1796-1797 issues carry the "Small Eagle" reverse, showing a slim eagle perched on a cloud, similar to the earlier Flowing Hair type. Beginning in 1800, the reverse switched to the "Heraldic Eagle" design, a larger eagle with a shield on its breast, holding an olive branch and arrows in its talons, with a ribbon and stars above, echoing the Great Seal of the United States.

Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge

The coin remains small at roughly 16.5 mm in diameter and about 1.35 grams in weight, struck in .8924 fine silver with a plain edge.

Mint Marks

No mint mark appears, since the Philadelphia Mint was the sole source of US coinage during this period.

Telling It Apart from Similar Coins

The clearest way to sort Draped Bust Half Dimes into their two types is the reverse: a plain, small eagle without a shield indicates 1796-1797, while an eagle with a shield on its chest and a ribbon above indicates 1800-1805. This coin should not be confused with the similarly designed Draped Bust Dime, which uses the same portrait style but is noticeably larger and reads a different denomination inscription pattern on the reverse (this half dime era did not spell out a denomination on the coin at all, relying instead on its size to signal value).

Judging Condition at a Glance

Wear appears first on Liberty's hair curls near the ear and on the drapery lines across her bust. On the Heraldic Eagle reverse, check the eagle's breast feathers and the shield lines; on the Small Eagle reverse, look at the wing and breast feather detail, since these areas flatten quickly with circulation.

Authenticity Notes

As with other coins from this early period, rarity and value make replicas and alterations worth watching for. Confirm the diameter and weight fall within expected ranges, and look for die characteristics typical of hand-engraved dies, including slightly irregular letter and star spacing. Given the values involved, professional certification is recommended before relying on any example as genuine.