Half dime

The half dime, or half disme, was a silver coin, valued at five cents, formerly minted in the United States.

Some numismatists consider the denomination to be the first coin minted by the United States Mint under the Coinage Act of 1792, with production beginning on or about July 1792. However, others consider the 1792 half dime to be nothing more than a pattern coin, or 'test piece', and this matter continues to be subject to debate.

These coins were much smaller than dimes in diameter and thickness, appearing to be "half dimes". In the 1860s, powerful nickel interests successfully lobbied for the creation of new coins, which would be made of a copper-nickel alloy; production of such coins began in 1865, and were struck in two denominations — three and five cents (the latter introduced in 1866).

The introduction of the copper-nickel five-cent pieces made the silver coins of the same denomination redundant, and they were discontinued in 1873.

The following types of half dimes were produced by the United States Mint or under the authority of the Coinage Act of 1792:

The half dime was one of the early coins of the U.S. Mint. Authorized by the Act of April 2, 1792, it lasted until 1873. Until 1829 it showed no value anywhere on its obverse or reverse.

The flowing hair half dime was designed by Robert Scot and this same design was also used for half dollar and dollar silver coins minted during the same period. The obverse bears a Liberty portrait similar to that appearing on the 1794 half cent and cent but without the liberty cap and pole. Mintage of the 1794 version was 7,765 while 78,660 of the 1795 version were produced.

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