Although most people have never had one in their pocket change, the half-cent used to be a common coin in the US. It was actually one of the first coins ever minted and continued being released for decades. If you've got a half-cent penny in your coin collection or just think it's interesting that this coin existed, it's good to know a little more about the history and some of the most valuable half pennies.
Most Valuable Half-Cent Coins
The face value of every half-cent is half a penny — or 1/200th of a dollar. Today that wouldn't buy you anything, but back before this coin was retired in 1856, a half-cent still had some purchasing power. Today, the rarest half-cents can be worth thousands or even millions of dollars.
| Half-Cent | Value |
|---|---|
| 1793 Half-Cent | $1,005,000 |
| 1796 No pole half-cent | $780,000 |
| 1796 Pole half-cent | $630,000 |
| 1795 Half-cent struck over 1795 cent | $444,000 |
| 1795 Lettered edge half-cent | $408,000 |
| 1794 High relief head half-cent | $408,000 |
1793 Half-Cent
The first year the half-cent was minted for circulation was 1793, and over 35,000 coins were released that year. Few of those survive. This first version of the half-penny shows Lady Liberty facing left and holding a cap on a pole. In very fine condition, this coin can be worth a lot. In 2022, one sold for $1,005,000.
1796 No Pole Half-Cent
The 1796 half-cent is considered one of the very rarest of all years, and it's something many collectors covet. Only 1,390 were minted. It actually comes in two varieties: no pole and with pole. The 1796 half-cent has Lady Liberty facing right. She still has a cap on a pole, but in some versions of the coin, the pole is actually missing. These are rarer than the pole variety and are very valuable. One sold for $780,000 in 2021.
1796 Pole Half-Cent
Although it's not quite as scarce as the no-pole variety, the 1796 pole half-cent is rare. It's even harder to find in mint state or nearly uncirculated condition. One with almost no wear sold for $630,000 in 2019.
1795 Half-Cent Struck Over a 1795 Cent
Minting errors were happening even in the early days of US coin production, and one 1795 half-cent is a good example of this. It Was struck over a 1795 penny and features an interruption in the surface from the design of the penny. The coin is very rare and sold for $444,000 in 2022.
1795 Lettered Edge Half-Cent
Some versions of the 1795 half-penny have a lettered edge that reads, "two hundred for a dollar." This coin is very difficult to find in good condition since it's over 200 years old and was minted for use. If you have one, it could be worth a lot. One sold for $408,000 in 2022.
1794 High Relief Head Half-Cent
Some examples of the 1794 half-cent have a high relief head in the profile of Lady Liberty. The details are very crisp and distinct, making it easy to see the subtleties like Lady Liberty's hair and face and the edges of the text. These are extremely rare in mint state. One sold for $408,000 in 2022.
1831 is also a very rare issue for the half cent, and many collectors feel there were only proof coins made during this year. If you have a half cent dated 1831, it's definitely worth checking out.
How to Spot Valuable Half Cents
The half-cent was discontinued in 1857 due to the high cost of copper and the unpopularity of the half-penny with consumers. Before that time, there were thousands minted. If you have one in your collection, these are some things to look for in determining whether it's valuable.
- Errors - Anything a little out of the ordinary can be worth more, so check for any strange minting mistakes.
- Condition - Watch for coins that appear to have minimal wear. The half-penny is an old coin, and finding one that hasn't seen a lot of circulation is rare. These can be worth a lot.
- Early years - The most valuable half-cent pennies seem to be the ones from the 1790s, so check the dates carefully.
- Rare years - The half-cent had especially low mintage numbers in 1796, 1802, and 1831.
- Details - Check for details like whether there's a pole with Lady Liberty's cap or whether anything is stamped on the edge of the coin. These can make a difference in the value.
Related: 10 Valuable Error Coins Proving Weirdness Is Worth a Lot
Half Cents as Part of History
Although the half-cent isn't part of our day-to-day currency anymore, it's still an important part of our history. If you've got one of these treasures in your collection, it's definitely worth a closer look to see if it might be valuable in a monetary as well as historical sense.
