1793-1797 Liberty Cap Half Cent

Coin specifications and design

Years made: 1793-1797

Country: United States

Denomination: One half cent

Category: Circulating coin

Composition: Copper

Silver fineness: None

Silver weight: 0.00 oz ASW

Weight: 6.74 g (1793–1794 and heavier 1795 varieties); 5.44 g (reduced-standard 1795–1797 varieties)

Diameter: Approx. 22 mm (1793); approx. 23.5 mm (1794–1797)

Thickness: Approx. 1.8-2.2 mm by planchet

Edge: Lettered, plain, or gripped according to date and variety

Designer: Attribution varies by issue; Henry Voigt, Robert Scot, and John Smith Gardner are associated with the series

Design identification

Obverse: Liberty with a cap and pole; the portrait faces left in 1793 and right from 1794 through 1797.

1793–1797 Liberty Cap Half Cent history notes

The Liberty Cap half-cent series contains two visibly different portrait directions and more than one planchet standard. The 1793 issue faces left and was struck to the original 104-grain standard, approximately 6.74 grams, with the edge inscription TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR. Its dies are not securely attributed to one designer; Henry Voigt is traditionally associated with the early die work, but the attribution remains unsettled.

Liberty faces right on the 1794–1797 issues. Coins of 1794 retain the heavier standard and lettered edge. During 1795 the Mint moved toward the reduced 84-grain standard, approximately 5.44 grams, so both heavier lettered-edge and lighter plain-edge varieties belong to that date. Most 1796–1797 pieces follow the lighter standard, while 1797 also includes rare lettered-edge and gripped-edge varieties. Robert Scot and John Smith Gardner are associated with different dies in this later group.