United States 1859 half dime

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This issue is common for the type. The last half dime was struck 1873, having been superseded by the more popular nickel five cents. Philadelphia (shown here) and New Orleans struck half dimes in 1859. New Orleans ceased to mint the type when it was closed by the Civil War in 1860-61, and San Francisco did not commence production until 1863.

Recorded mintage: 340,000.

Specification: 1.24 g, 0.900 fine silver, 23 mm diameter, reeded edge, designed by Christian Gobrecht.

Catalog reference: KM A62.2.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Blythe, Al, The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Half Dimes, Virginia Beach, VA: DLRC Press, 1992.
• Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.

Link to:

• 1858-O half dime
• 1959 cent
• 1859 dime
• 1859-C 5 dollars
• 1859-S 10 dollars
• 1859-S 20 dollars
• return to United States Seated Liberty Half Dimes (1837-1873)
• Coins and currency dated 1859