U.S. COIN REFERENCE · Draped Bust half dime
Draped Bust half dimes: eagle type, stars, and the missing years
The portrait remains familiar while the reverse and date sequence change.
By SalarsNet · Reviewed October 5, 2026
Small eagle or heraldic eagle
The 1796–1797 type has a small eagle; the 1800–1805 family uses a heraldic eagle. No half dimes were made in 1804. Neither design supplies a denomination inscription, so size and a reliable type reference matter. Count the stars on a proposed 1797 attribution rather than assuming every die used the same number.
Type references: PCGS Draped Bust Half Dime ↗
A soft eagle and a worn portrait
Inspect the high hair, eagle breast, surrounding stars, and lettering under several light angles. Early strikes can be uneven. Record any parallel marks, scratches, or tooling with their locations before deciding whether they belong to manufacture or later handling. A photograph that obscures the center needs a better view before a confident grade.
Type references: PCGS Draped Bust Half Dime ↗
Keep 1802 separate from the broad family
The 1802 is a major rarity within the design span. A partly readable 180x date should not inherit that rarity. Confirm the die and authentication first, then compare equivalent original surfaces and preservation. The family’s general scarcity cannot replace an exact issue record.
Type references: PCGS Draped 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.