I've been almost exclusively into world coins for the last ten years or so, but I was wondering what it would cost to get a U.S. half cent. Is there a year or a few years that are cheaper than others? Not looking for high grade. Just don't want it to have holes, be severely worn or have other major damage. How much do you think I could expect to pay for the most common date in this sort of condition?
It cost me $20 for a damaged one. I'm happy with this (my only) one, but it wouldn't have met your specifications. Probably best to check auctions to get an estimate as to what is possible. A quick eBay check shows even worn ones going for about $30-$50 minumum.
You can get quite nice one fairly affordably, under $100. They are one of my favorite US denominations and are surprisingly affordable for coins with low mintages. The classic head type is my favorite.
I just looked at my index of coins and found that I have one 1809 Half Cent. It's not graded, and never will, but it's in nice shape. The 2022 Red Book has it listed in the lowest grade at $60. It was part of my father's collection. I've had it since he died in 1997.
I just ordered an 1825 from eBay. It seemed nicer than similar priced coins ($40). I probably could have done better on an auction if I tried enough times but I don't really have the time for that anymore.
It all depends upon what grade you want, and how much you are willing to pay. You can get selected dates from the 1830s because that were hoards, and the coin was not popular. The dates from the 1850s didn't circulate very much and almost always grade EF or better, unless they have environmental or other damage. NGC shortchanged me on this one as an MS-63, Brown. It should have made MS-64. This one is in an MS-62 holder. You can get pieces from the early 1800s in EF or so for reasonable money. This 1806 is another hoard coin. There are a few hundred Mint State pieces. Still it will cost you a few thousand dollars because of type collectors. It was graded MS-62, Brown, but that was 20 years ago. Grade-flation might peg it higher.
Yours are very nice of course. I'm not looking for anything so fancy. I am fine collecting circulated coins, but I'd rather not have holes, scratches, corrosion and things like that. I just don't have any of these in my collection and it seems like they should be represented.
I know that you would like something cheaper than what I have shown you, @Hiddendragon, but I just don't have any pictures of inexpensive circulated half cents. So I'll close with something from the 1790s. These half cents are all expensive and for good reason. Nice ones are really scarce and hard to find. When I was a kid collector in the 1960s, I never saw a nice one. Here is a 1795 in AU-55. The die variety book on half cents was written by Roger Cohen. This was his 1795 C-1. The last I knew this one is the 7th finest known for the variety. I sold a nice 1825 in EF a little over a year ago. Sorry I didn't know about your want list at the time.
Here's what I ended up buying. Eventually I'll get one of the other styles but now at least I can say I own a half cent.
