Picked up a 1804 half cent today

Sometimes it pays to shop early for Christmas for the wife. While I was waiting for my wife’s ring to be wrapped, I found this little gem. Well, I jumped on this half cent when I saw it. I’m 90% sure it’s the plain 4 no stem variety. Can any half cent people tell me more about it?

 

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I wonder what you could buy with that coin back then.

 

I always wonder who may have held it over the years. Founding father? One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence?

 

Plain 4 Stemless wreath C-13. The most common of the 1804 half cents. The coin is a little odd because it is normally a little weak on the reverse around S O and strong around UNI. Yours is opposite that. It looks like it may be either struck on a tapered planchet or the dies were out of parallel.

 

fun pick up

 

Conder101 is absolutely correct.

Remember, though that ANY half cent is a rare coin and very much worth having.

 

I have 2 Half Cents that my father picked up years ago. He wasn't a strong collector, but he liked coins that were a little different, like the half cent. Thanks for showing yours.

 

Nice find. You were rewarded as Santa's helper.

 

I’ve been buying draped bust large cents lately. I wasn’t gonna let a draped bust half cent go. Now only if it was as rare as a 1804 large cent.

 

The stemless reverse that was used to strike that coin was the most durable die ever used to make half cents. It made the 1804, Plain 4 Stemless, 1805, Medium 5 Stemless and 1806, Small 6 Stemless half cents, which were the most common half cent varieties for each of those years. The 1804 Plain 4 Stemless and the 1806 Small 6, Stemless half cents are the most common half cents in my opinion.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You certainly have a winner there, thanks for sharing it. Good luck

 

I wonder if the die is rotated to the token/medal position which would also account for the S O UNI swap? It should be easy for the OP to check.

 

The reverse is rotated 20 degrees or so clockwise I believe

 

I've read in a few places that a half cent had the purchasing power of approximately 20 - 30 cents today. Supposedly people at the time hated them, including the mint, but the monetary system made them "necessary evils."

I have a terrible weakness for half cents, but therapy costs more than the half cents themselves. I also have an 1804, but it's a Crosslet 4 Stems.

 

Very nice

 

Any 1804 coin floats my boat

 

I just wish all coins had multiple mint marks. That would be fun

 

Sensible guess

I can see that what you say.

 

Glad for you. Love to see those

 

Cute. I agree. You have to be old to even fathom a half penny(CENT) Does able person honestly never bends down and announce even mentally. Found a penny. Current. Found a S war nickel. Not a five cent piece to most