US Half Cents...

When I was a meager tyke I once went to the local post office with a single penny in my hand and asked the postmaster for two half cent stamps. No, I'm not older than Yoda, I was too young to realize that the half cent stamps I saw in catalogs predated my existence by some years. The postmaster, who I could barely see over the counter, just smiled and directed me to some other commems featuring exotic rodents or carnivorous plants or something...

Perhaps I have a predilection towards small monetary units, because I can't stop my fascination for half cent coins. But here's the strange thing: I don't own any. I've promised myself for years that I would acquire one of those age old relics from the times of the bisectable cent. Luckily, the new Red Book Deluxe contains a swath of pages on copper halfsies so I can learn more than I ever knew I could about these objects that have lurked in my conscious. I'm still reading these pages.

Any half cent hoarders here? Any advice for accumulating these interesting fractional rounds? I recently saw a slabbed 1829 in XF BN for $150. Temptation brewed but I resisted. I'm trying to stop the impulse buying monster and become more selective.

 

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I love US Half Cents, I'm two away from completing the bust half cent collection . The 1828 are interesting as there are two types the 12 and 13 star coins. There are 3 varieties also for the 1828 date.

 

I don't have too many of them, but I think that half cents are an overlooked denomination by most. I've had a long term goal to complete a set of braided hair proof half cents. Needless to say it has been a slow go of it. This 1852 NGC PR-65 B-1 is my favorite though.

 

I dont collect them specifically, but have a few and will pick one up every once in a while. Compared to other series they have a pretty low mintage as well.

( I look for surface preservation first and details second)

 

I have a few. The 1825 and later dates (circulation strikes) are quite affordable in XF and are not hard to find with nice color and good planchets. 1811 is the tough one both in terms of quality and paying for it. I have a VG.

 

Yes the 25 and the 11 ' s are the 3, I need to complete my set. The 11's are going to be costly for sure and the conditions of those two are most probably going to be in VG rather then my xf goals for my set.

 

I caught the half cent bugs a number of years ago.
I finally completed my set of Red Book listed business strikes.

Here's my NGC Registry Set of Classic Head half cents:
https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/MySets_Listing.aspx?PeopleSetID=89446

The 1811 is a C-2.
I also have the C-1 (4-star break) in VF-35 but NGC doesn't make room for it.

And the hardest one to find was the 1809 "o in 0" variety.
I wonder if it's price is not reflective of it's scarcity.

 

I forgot about the 09 " o in 0 variety . Now it's 4- I need lol.

Kanga you going to come up to the Gettysburg show? It's really a nice show.

 

I only go to 3 shows a year (I can't afford more).
I go to the 3 Baltimore Whitman shows so the next for me will be their winter show, generally in November.

 

Here are my U.S. Half Cents

 

The 1835,and the 1837 Half Cent Worth of Copper Hard Times Token.
I need to re image some of these as the color on a few is way off the true tones.

 

I hear you Kanga , but it's not a bad ride up from our area to Gettysburg , and the show is well worth the trip. I'll be there on Friday .

 

Are you from maryland? I live about 30 minutes north of baltimore

 

What a beautiful set, which I know took considerable patience to complete. I'm very happy for you!! You definitely have a reason to be proud.

JMHO

 

You know Hamilton had a hard time of it getting the half cent added to the coinage. Bread was often priced at two for a cent, and his arguement was too many didn't have a whole cent.

 

I'm just outside of BWI off Rt 97 & 100.

 

are they copper?

 

Yes that's why the 1837 reads half cent worth of copper. There were no business strikes made in 36 or 37. There was a need for some sort of token to fuel commerce thus the 1837 token. And yes 1809-1835 were copper coins.

 

Yep, I'm down in Silver Spring.

 

I'm in southern MD...Calvert county