Half Cent Use After 1857

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Alaska Dude, Jun 27, 2019.

  1. Alaska Dude

    Alaska Dude New Member

    What was the last year for a U.S. half cent coin to be in general circulation and used as a half cent?
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    Time for you to buy a "Red Book". Many questions you have are in that book.

    0794845770.png
     
    Paddy54 likes this.
  4. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    The Red Book will quickly tell you the last year the coin was minted, but I don't think it generally has much to say about when they stopped circulating...?
     
  5. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    They were never demonetized, so it's a tough question. I would suggest looking for when the intrinsic value of the copper permanently surpassed their face value.
     
  6. JCro57

    JCro57 Making Errors Great Again

    How about something called "Google." I never answer a question someone could have easily looked up themselves
     
    CoinCorgi likes this.
  7. 1948 Edward

    1948 Edward Member

    I believe one was found in a bank vault in 1942, who knows how long it was sitting there.
     
  8. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    Actually they were never legal tender until 1965 (that is NOT a typo).

    Impossible to actually say when they actually stopped circulating, but the Mint was still redeeming and melting down half cents and large cents as late as at least 1890. I haven't checked later records. The place to find the redemption information is in the annual mint reports not the Redbook.
     
    Dave Waterstraat and NSP like this.
  9. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    Yes, but it didnt effect them circulating. They were functionally legal tender for small debts, and were never demonetized.
     
  10. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    I doubt that most people ever saw one in circulation after the 1830s. I say this based upon my collecting experience. When I was collecting them by die variety, the really low grade ones, that got there by honest wear and not damage, were generally dated from 1793 to 1811.

    When the series resumed in 1825, pieces in less than VF are unusual. The made for circulation pieces continued until 1835, with not all years in between and then went on Proof-only status.

    Anyone who has collected the 1849 to 1857 pieces will note that EF and better for sharpness is the norm. In other words, the coin was not popular and saw very little use.

    Yet, some guy named Hesselman so fit to issue this piece in 1837.

    1837 Half Cent me O,jpg.jpg 1837 Half Cent me R.jpg
     
    gronnh20, -jeffB and Jaelus like this.
  11. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Thanks for posting this. The Red Book is a valuable reference, but it doesn't contain all numismatic knowledge. Not even Google does (although, of course, it'll gobble up everything we post here...)
     
    johnmilton likes this.
  12. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    You have to remember that this based on my deductions and observations. I also know that the half cents and large cents did not circulate well, especially the half cents.
     
  13. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Sooner or later, we all have to rely on deductions and observations, and often we have to rely on other people for them. You've observed more than I ever will on this series, and I value your observations.
     
  14. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    I have often wondered that. I suppose the nation has never demonetized odd denomination legal tender type coins have they? I could in effect take an old seated twenty cent coin and purchase a pack of gum with it if I wanted..... Wouldn’t that blow a young cashiers thought process away?
     
    Jaelus likes this.
  15. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Well, they would want the other eighty cents... :rolleyes:
     
    Randy Abercrombie likes this.
  16. Burton Strauss III

    Burton Strauss III Brother can you spare a trime? Supporter

    Or call the cops, often happens w/ $2 bills and Golden Dollars...
     
  17. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    They couldn't be demonitized, because they were never "monitized" in the first place.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page