Capped Bust Half Dime Values & Mintages
After a gap of more than twenty years the half dime returned in 1829 with the Capped Bust design already used on larger silver coins, struck in a close collar.
- Years
- 1829–1837
- Issues listed
- 9
- Lowest mintage
- 871K
- Diameter
- 15.5 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip.
Every date from 1829 to 1837 was made in the hundreds of thousands or more, so this is the most affordable early half dime type.
Designer: William Kneass, after John Reich.
Key dates: lowest mintages
See all 9 →Every Capped Bust Half Dime by year and mint
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| Owned✓ | Coin | Year | Mint | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1829 Capped Bust Half Dime | 1829 | None | 1,230,000 | Circulation strike | 0.0387 oz | |
| 1830 Capped Bust Half Dime | 1830 | None | 1,240,000 | Circulation strike | 0.0387 oz | |
| 1831 Capped Bust Half Dime | 1831 | None | 1,242,700 | Circulation strike | 0.0387 oz | |
| 1832 Capped Bust Half Dime | 1832 | None | 965,000 | Circulation strike | 0.0387 oz | |
| 1833 Capped Bust Half Dime | 1833 | None | 1,370,000 | Circulation strike | 0.0387 oz | |
| 1834 Capped Bust Half Dime | 1834 | None | 1,480,000 | Circulation strike | 0.0387 oz | |
| 1835 Capped Bust Half Dime | 1835 | None | 2,760,000 | Circulation strike | 0.0387 oz | |
| 1836 Capped Bust Half Dime | 1836 | None | 1,900,000 | Circulation strike | 0.0387 oz | |
| 1837 Capped Bust Half Dime | 1837 | None | 871,000 | Circulation strike | 0.0387 oz |
Composition by year
| Years | Metal | Weight | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1829–1837 | 89.24% silver, 10.76% copper | 1.35 g | 0.0387 oz |
Mint mark location
1829–1837: No mint mark. Struck in Philadelphia.
Grading tips
Check the curls near Liberty's ear and the cap band, then the eagle's wing feathers.
The half dime comes back
No half dimes had been struck since 1805 when the Mint revived the denomination in 1829. William Kneass, the Chief Engraver, based the new coin on John Reich's Capped Bust design, already in use on the dime and half dollar. For the first time the half dime showed its value, 5 C.
The new coins were struck in a close collar from the very first year. That gave them a uniform size, a clean reeded edge and a raised rim with a row of beads inside it, so even worn pieces look neat compared with the earlier half dimes.
A short and collectible series
There are nine dates, 1829 to 1837, all from Philadelphia. Mintages ranged from 871,000 to 2,760,000, so no regular date is a great rarity. That makes the Capped Bust half dime one of the easiest early types to collect by date.
Varieties add depth. The 1834 and 1836 have a 3 over an inverted 3, the 1835 comes with Large and Small Dates and Large and Small 5 C. and the 1837 has two sizes of 5 C. Specialists use LM numbers to sort the die marriages.
Grading and care
Look first at the band on Liberty's cap. A full, sharp LIBERTY means at least Fine. Then check the curls by her ear and the eagle's feathers. On uncirculated coins, look for luster across the fields.
The biggest problems are cleaning and damage. Many half dimes were polished or holed for jewelry. Harsh cleaning leaves fine scratches that cut the collector premium. Keep any coin you find in an inert holder and never rub it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the rarest Capped Bust Half Dime?
By mintage, the scarcest regular circulation issue is the 1837 Capped Bust Half Dime with 871,000 struck, followed by the 1832 Capped Bust Half Dime (965,000). Survival rates and condition also matter: some higher-mintage dates are scarce in top grades.
Are Capped Bust Half Dimes silver?
1829–1837: 89.24% silver, 10.76% copper.
Where is the mint mark on a Capped Bust Half Dime?
1829–1837: No mint mark. Struck in Philadelphia.
How many Capped Bust Half Dimes were made?
About 13,058,700 for circulation across 9 date and mint combinations, from 2,760,000 for the 1835 Capped Bust Half Dime down to 871,000 for the 1837 Capped Bust Half Dime.
Who designed the Capped Bust Half Dime?
William Kneass, after John Reich.
How can I tell a Capped Bust half dime from a dime?
Check the value on the reverse. The half dime reads 5 C. and is about 15.5 millimeters across. The dime reads 10 C. and is larger.
What replaced the Capped Bust half dime?
Christian Gobrecht's Seated Liberty half dime, introduced in 1837, the same year the last Capped Bust half dimes were struck.
Other odd denominations
Mintages from US Mint records as published in standard references, each checked against at least two independent sources. Specifications from US Mint records. All sources.