Draped Bust Half Dime
112+ LuckyCoin collectors track this series
Spanning 1796 to 1805, the Draped Bust Half Dime catalog contains 13 year-and-mintmark variants. Across the series, the key date is the 1802 Draped Bust Half Dime at just 3,060 struck and the highest-value variant is the 1802 Draped Bust Half Dime at up to $370,000 in top grade.
Draped Bust Half Dime Mintage by Year
Peak 45KCombined mintage per year across every strike type (circulated, proof, and specimen) and all mintmarks.
About the Draped Bust Half Dime
The Draped Bust Half Dime coin was the earliest American silver coin, first issued in the United States in 1796. The Half Dime coin was a small silver coin and the size and weight of the coin changed several times during its life.
The first design on the coin was called the Draped Bust, due to the image of Lady Liberty, who is wearing a draped gown, on both the obverse and reverse of the coin. On the obverse of the coin is a left facing portrait of Lady Liberty with the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” around the image. On the reverse, an eagle with wings slightly spread is shown with the words “HALF DIME” around the image.
The Half Dime coins were part of the first dime series minted in the United States. As such the coins were minted for only a few years, ending in 1805. The dimes that were minted during this period were made with a few different compositions consisting of copper, copper nickel, and silver. The Draped Bust Half Dime is considered to be a collectible coin today with some of the coins being rare. There are many graded specimens of the coin in various conditions with prices depending on the grade and condition of the coin. PCGS and NGC both grade and certify the coins with the most sought after coins often selling for thousands of dollars.
The Draped Bust Half Dime was a bit of Americana that was around during some of the most turbulent times in our country’s history. The coin is a piece of history that is still available today as a collectible, and one that is sure to hold its value for many years.
Most-collected Draped Bust Half Dime coins on LuckyCoin
Looking for coins from a specific year across every denomination? Browse US coin values by year →
Which Draped Bust Half Dime coins do collectors actually own? See the 2026 rarity & ownership report →
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Draped Bust Half Dime minted?
- The Draped Bust Half Dime was minted by United States from 1796 to 1805.
- How many Draped Bust Half Dime coins were minted?
- Across every year and mintmark, approximately 179,027 Draped Bust Half Dime coins were struck.
- What is the Draped Bust Half Dime made of?
- The Draped Bust Half Dime is made of silver (.8924) (.1076 copper), weighs 1.35 grams, and measures 16.5 mm in diameter.
- How much is a Draped Bust Half Dime worth?
- Value depends on year, mintmark, and condition. Common dates in average circulated condition trade for near face value, while the rarest varieties in top grade can fetch up to $370,000. See individual year pages for grade-by-grade estimates.