HALF DIME 1800-1805 Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle

Perhaps a note of surprise over the relatively few number of coins struck. This small number has caused all Half Dimes of this era to be scarce and found primarily in lower ranges of condition, from About Good to Very Good. Not yet referred to as the Nickel, half dimes of 1800-1805 continued the Draped Bust obverse used earlier in 1796-1797, except that the stars beginning in 1800 have been standardized to seven left and six right. The reverse is of the Heraldic Eagle style adopted from the Great Seal of the United States and used beginning in the preceding decade on certain other silver denominations. At the center is an eagle with a shield on its breast, holding in its beak a ribbon inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM and grasping in its talon a bundle of arrows and an olive branch. Above the eagle is an arc of clouds under which is a group of stars. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds. No mark of denomination or value appears on the coin.

Fine specimens are not easy to locate, Very Fine pieces are still more elusive, and Extremely Fine coins are rare. Strictly Uncirculated pieces are extremely rare. Those that do come on. The market are apt to be dated 1800. Uncirculated specimens dated 1801, 1802, and 1803 (no pieces were coined in 1804), and 1805 are exceedingly rare or nonexistent. Nearly all known specimens exhibit a degree of light striking in one area or another. Such striking characteristics are to be expected, and a numismatist seeking a perfectly struck, extremely sharp example in a high grade is apt to never encounter such a coin!

The 1802 Half Dime is a prime rarity. Although, the lack of production makes any coin of these dates a rare find.