Half Dimes

Seated Liberty Half Dime

The main difference between a nickel and a half-dime or “half-disme” is the fact that this 5 cent piece was not made from nickel. The half dime was one of the original US Mint coins ever made, beginning in 1792 and used until the nickel-composed 5 cent piece replaced the silver half dime issue in 1873. The Seated Liberty Half dime was the final silver half dime. Previous designs included the Bust Half Dime (1792), which was followed by the Flowing Hair Half Dime (1794-1795), the Draped Bust Half Dime (1796-1805), and Capped Bust Half Dime (1829-1837).

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1794 -1837 Bust Half Dime

The Bust half dime or disme is part of a larger half dime program in the US. “Disme” comes from the French word, derived from the Latin “decimus” or “tenth.” This word was struck only on the 1792 half dismes, but never on any other US coins. Actually, the 1792 half disme was the first official US coin, but it was not made at the US Mint. Of the half dimes, the United States ever used, the major designs included the Bust half dime, Draped Bust with small eagle reverse, Draped Bust with large eagle reverse, and the Capped Bust.

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