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Liberty Cap Type 1793-1797
The design bares the head of
Liberty facing left, a Phrygian cap on a pole in the
background. The cap was worn by freed Roman slaves. The
word LIBERTY appears above the bust, the date 1793 below. The
reverse features a laurel wreath of leaves and berries
tied with a bow. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the fraction 1/200
surround the wreath, and half cent is written the wreath.
The edges bear the words TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR followed by
two leaves. The designer was Adam Eckfeldt, the coin
has a diameter of 22 millimeters, weighs 6.7 grams, and was made
of copper.
Draped Bust Type 1800-1808
 
The Draped Bust Type bore the face of Miss Liberty on
the front of the coin with Liberty written above her head and
the date below her. She continued to face to the right on
this design, which was made by Robert Scot, the mints Chief
Engraver. On the reverse of the coin the United States of
America is on the outer border, with half cent in the center
surrounded by a laurel wreath. Beneath the wreath were the fractions 1/200.
The diameter of the coin is 23.5 millimeters weighing 5.4 grams.
It is made of copper and has a plain edge.
Classic Head Type 1809-1836
 
The previous
Draped Bust design, featured a Revolutionary War era
portrait of Liberty. John Reich's design has a less buxom Liberty
facing left, with a band inscribed LIBERTY within her hair.
Seven stars are to the left of the bust and six to the right,
with the date below. The reverse shows a wreath encircling the
denomination half cent, with the inscription UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA surrounding the wreath on the outer border of the coin.
The diameter of the coin is 23.5 millimeters weighing 5.4 grams.
It is made of copper and has a plain edge.
Half Cent Token 1837
 
There were no half cent coins produced in 1837. Tokens
were issued privately by businessman who needed them for
commerce to take the place of the Large and Half Cents, because
of the great need for small change.
Coronet Head Braided Hair Type 1840-1857
 
The new Miss
Liberty replaced John Reich's "Classic Head " Christian
Gobrecht's Braided Hair Half Cent design has a bust of Liberty, her hair
braided into a bun, ringlets of hair draping down below
the base of the bust, Miss Liberty faces left. She is wearing a
tiara in which the word LIBERTY is inscribed. Thirteen stars
surround her head in a semicircle. The reverse bares the design
by John Reich's half cent. The denomination half cent is
framed in a wreath tied at the bottom with a bow, surrounded by
the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
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