U.S. COIN REFERENCE · 1792 half disme
The 1792 half disme: evidence before the founding legend
This small silver coin needs a documented attribution before any founding-era story adds value.
By SalarsNet · Reviewed October 5, 2026
The first official issue and an unfinished debate
The 1792 half disme predates the Mint’s regular copper coinage. Specialists differ over whether to classify it with patterns or regular issues; PCGS treats it as regular. Its spelling, portrait, and eagle belong to a distinct design. Popular stories about Washington supplying household silver should not be presented as established provenance for a specimen.
Type references: PCGS Bust Half Dime ↗
A rare coin needs a complete record
Preserve clear photographs of both faces and the edge, actual measurements when available, and any prior certification or sale history. Wear can obscure the small inscriptions, while a reproduction may resemble the general design. Check the claimed coin against a specialist die reference and authentication evidence. A familiar picture and a legible 1792 are insufficient for a confident identification.
Type references: PCGS Bust Half Dime ↗
Compare the documented object
An attributed original, an imitation, and a medallic reproduction require different comparisons. Grade and surface problems matter within the authentic group. Start with the certification and provenance that can be verified, then obtain current completed sales of genuinely comparable examples; leave attribution unresolved where the evidence does not settle it.
Type references: PCGS Bust Half Dime ↗
Selected reviewed issue records
These catalog standards describe the named issue, not a measured specimen. The selected records below do not cover every date, mint, strike, or die variety. Reported production is labeled separately from established mintage. Unknown standards and mintage remain visible; survival estimates and certified populations are separate research questions.
No issue-level specification or mintage records are published for this category yet. Verify the exact date, mint, strike, metal, and subtype in its reference before using a numerical standard.
References and review
Reference reviewed October 5, 2026. Historical facts and catalog standards need to match the exact issue; price comparisons should be researched at the time of valuation.