Half Cent Values

Obverse: Separating a half cent in Mint State grade from a circulated coin is absence of wear to any part of the design. Metal surfaces are as minted.

Inspect Liberty's hair above the ribbon. Waves of hair are deeply separated and tops of curls are rounded. A texture to the metal remains in these high points without any significant smoothing.

Scan all stars. Each needs to remain without any flattening to the centers and ridges forming the points. Of note: variances in depth of striking occurs. Inspecting all of the stars gives a clear indication of the differences between wear on top of the star or flatness due to a weak strike.

Tilt the coin under a single light source. Viewing areas of hair at the back of Liberty's neck; roundness to strands remains on a mint state example.

Reverse: Inspect the leaves surrounding Half Cent. Most leaves have a raised edge with a raised line within the center. Wear would show as a smooth and flat area on leaf edges. Confirm a profile remains without smoothing.

A ribbon is featured at the lower end of wreath. Raised areas are visible without any smoothing to the metal.

Obverse: A small amount of wear is beginning to show over the surfaces of an Extremely Fine grade half cent. Portrait of Liberty remains crisp and sharp. Adding to the boldness of Miss Liberty is all major strands of hair are separated and well defined.

Inspecting above the eyebrow and ribbon finds a small amount of flattening to the crests of the hair curls. Confirm all strands are clear with no merging.

Looking closely at the centers of the stars; most show a separation of the points continuing to the centers. A small amount of smoothing is evident.

Ends of the "Liberty" ribbon are well defined with high and low relief details intact.

Reverse: A very distant laurel branch remains bold. Each leaf cluster is defined and leaves are clearly separated.

Center areas of leaves have lost detail on a few. Edges of all leaves are well separated and most retain a raised edge.

Lower ribbon is defined, curls evident and edges are raised. A small amount of wear has flattened upper curves to the waves in the ribbon.

Obverse: Wear is now very evident to the entire surface of a Fine grade half cent. Condition is described as moderate wear.

Both above and below Liberty's hair ribbon is a concentration of wear and smoothing to the metal. This is a high point to the relief of the coin and many of the strands of hair are merged. Enough detail remains separating major curls and strands of hair placing the coin sold in the Fine grade. Note: Liberty's hair merges with neck in a few places and not continuous.

Stars are flattened with traces of central lines.

Reverse: Center details are now flat on uppermost leaves of each cluster.

Only in a few places have edges of leaves merged together to form a flat surface.

Ribbon is showing areas of flatness; however, edges are clear, and waves in the ribbon are well defined. All lettering is very bold.

Obverse: Heavy wear describes a half cent in Good grade. A full date is readable and Liberty's portrait, mostly an outline, is raised above the field.

Hair strands are now missing from above and below the hair ribbon. Liberty's forehead is flattened with no hair detail. Lettering of "Liberty" on the head band is readable but often very weak.

Suggestions of ribbon and hair remain towards the back of Liberty's head and neck.

Stars are flat with no central detail. Rim is often weak in areas.

Reverse: Leaves defining the laurel stem are now merged forming groups, little to no separation remains. Each group of leaves are well defined.

Lettering of the legend is weak in areas with tops merging with rim. All lettering must remain readable.

Some detail remains to the ribbon at the base of the wreath.

Obverse: A coveted grade by collectors, uncirculated - mint state half cents must remain without any wear to the surface. It is this important feature - no wear - that places these coins in the top grade.

A high relief area and first to inspect is the waves of hair just above Liberty's ear. Each wave remains rounded in profile. Wear would present as a smoothing to the surface and a change in color to the metal.

A second area are the waves of hair below the portrait. No smoothing indicates a lack of wear.

Laying on Liberty's shoulder are curls forming high areas. Each remains defined with roundness to all upper edges.

Reverse: A laurel branch surrounds Half Cent in the center. Each leaf of the branch is detailed with high and low areas and central lines. High ridges of the leaves are intact with no smoothing.

At the bottom of the wreath is a ribbon creating a connection. Waves of the ribbon are high in relief with no evidence of smoothing. Inspect also edges of the ribbon for any flatness caused by wear.

Obverse: Wear is just beginning to show on upper areas of the metal. Important to the Extremely Fine grade is very few areas of the design have merged.

Hair just above Liberty's ear displays a small flatness, slightly merging into one smooth wave. Ear remains separated from surrounding hair.

Below the portrait all waves of hair are separated and only a small flattening is evident on highest reliefs.

Curls of hair laying on Liberty's shoulder remain well defined. Smoothing is showing but limited to the central area. Separation of each curl remains.

Reverse: Moderate wear has begun to flatten and remove central detail to the leaves.

Areas of smoothness are visible on center areas of a few leaves. Many leaves are well defined. Important is no merging and each leaf remains defined.

Ribbon at the connection of the laurel branch is distinct. Each wave of the ribbon is raised above any parts of the stem and leaves. A few small flat areas are noted on the upper curls of the ribbon. A prominent ribbon solidifies an extremely fine grade.

Obverse: A moderate amount of wear defines half cents in Fine Grade. Smaller details such as fine lines separating hair strands are beginning to merge.

Hair details above Liberty's ear are now one flat area and connected with hair braids of forehead. A slight definition separating her cheek from hair is visible in a Fine grade coin.

Below the portrait and just above the date, curls of hair are still strong, however, finer strands are no longer visible.

Placing this coin solid in Fine condition is strong details of the beaded cords tying Liberty hair. Distinct two rows of beads are fully separated and complete across the center.

Reverse: Moderate amounts of wear has removed many finer details to leaves of the wreath. Many "top" leaves are completely smooth.

Raised edges of leaves are now smooth on upper leaves with lower leaves still showing raised edge detail. Separation defining each leaf is an important point to the fine grade. Inspect closely leaves adjacent to "H" of Half Cent.

Strong ribbon detail draped over the laurel stem gives definition to the overall pleasing look. Areas of the upper and under ribbon are clearly defined. Spots of flatness to the ribbon are evident but do not connect.

Obverse: Heavy wear is covering entire portrait of Liberty, defining the Good grade.

Hair is worn smooth lacking any fine strands. Towards the back, large curls remain slightly defined. Most hair detail has merged with Liberty's face and is now a flat plane.

A once a bold coronet is now blended with hair, however lettering of "Liberty" is readable.

Note: Evidence of a beaded cord tying Liberty's hair remains, adding appeal to overall look.

Reverse: Inspecting the leaves, most individual leaves have merged forming well-worn groups. Very few lines of separation define any single leaf.

Ribbon connecting the lower wreath is worn smooth, however, the center ribbon is clearly defined.

Lettering of the legend is readable with only minor fading. A nice appearance adds to a solid Good grade.

First example is a lightly circulated 1851 half cent. This coin exhibits a pleasing even color highlighting the design elements. Additionally, no marks or damage catch the eye. A desirable collector quality example.

An 1826 half cent displays environmental damage. A discoloration is causing an unnatural appearance to the copper surface.

On this 1853 half cent, corrosion has taken hold, darkening and pitting the surface.