Half cent (United States coin)

The half - cent coin (English Half Cent Coin) is a historical coin of the United States with a value of 1/ 200 U.S. dollars. It is thus the U.S. coin with the smallest denomination that was legal tender. At the local level but also tokens were with smaller nominal value, from 1/1000 of Dollars ( Mill ) in use.

History

When the United States in 1793 the U.S. dollar as its own currency introduced, including the Spanish real coins were widely used as means of payment. Silver content and therefore the value of the U.S. dollar corresponded to that of a standard 8 - reales coin which was called Spanish dollars. However, since the U.S. dollar is based on the decimal system, a 1- real coin had a value of $ 0.125 or 12.5 cents. Therefore, a 1/2-Cent-Münze was needed to change correctly.

Although their purchasing power equivalent to that of a modern dimes ( $ 0.10 ), it was never very popular. Regularly, the production was interrupted because dealer banks and fewer of these coins than expected anforderten. Popularly they had the condescending nickname "Half Sister" (half- sister). The last half - cent coins were minted in 1857. Efforts to re- launch at the beginning of the 20th century failed, and finally through inflation were also related to the benefits.

Like the first "Large -Cents ", the half - cent coin was made ​​of pure copper. First variants have the inscription "Half Cent " and " 1/200 " on the back and " Two hundred for a dollar " ( Two hundred for a dollar ) in the edge; later variants only " Half Cent " and a smooth edge. The weight was initially 6.74 g at 22 millimeters in diameter, 1795, 5.44 g at 23.5 millimeters in diameter. The obverse shows a portrait of Liberty. Using the different representations of the following types:

• Liberty Cap Half Cent (1793-1797)
• Draped Bust Half Cent (1800-1808)
• Classic Head Half Cent (1809-1836)
• Braided Hair Half Cent (1840-1857)