United States 1872-S half dime

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The shield nickel was introduced in 1866 as a larger cousin of the nickel three cents introduced the year before. The base metal issue quickly established its superiority over the silver half dime and the latter was terminated in 1873. It took longer for the battle between the three cents and five cents to produce a victor but in 1889 production of the three cents ceased while the five cents is still in use. This half dime subtype, with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" on the obverse, was produced at Philadelphia (1860-73), New Orleans (1860-61 only) and San Francisco (1863-73). It is common and the 1872-S is a common date, whether the mintmark is below the wreath (shown here) or above the wreath.

Record mintage: 837,000 (including mintmark above wreath).

Specification: 1.24 g, .900 fine silver, 15.5 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 91.

Sources:

• Alexander, David T., Coin World Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States Coins, Sidney, OH: Amos Press, 1995.
• Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.

Link to:

• 1870 5 cents
• 1870-S silver dollar
• 1872 cent
• 1872 nickel three cents
• 1873 half dollar, no arrows
• return to United States Seated Liberty Half Dimes (1837-1873)
• Coins and currency dated 1872