The 1792 half disme stands at the threshold of federal coinage: a tiny silver five-cent piece made while the first United States Mint was still being established.
This guide covers the 1792 half disme category. The two local catalog rows share one date and identity and must not be read as two separately reported mintages.
Core specifications
- Issue period
- 1792
- Catalog mints
- 1
- Reported catalog mintage
- Not reported
- Composition
- Not stated
- Diameter
- Not stated
- Weight
- Not stated
A decimal denomination before regular Mint production
The Coinage Act of 1792 authorized a silver half disme worth one-twentieth of a dollar. The United States Mint records that 1,500 pieces were made while the Philadelphia Mint was still under construction.
These pieces precede the regular 1794 federal silver coinage and occupy a specialized space between proposed, experimental, and circulating money. Their historical importance does not turn the two current catalog rows into two production events.
Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type
Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.
The main portrait and date
Liberty faces left with the date below and the inscription LIB. PAR. OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY around the border.
Denomination, subject, and mint mark
A small eagle occupies the center, with HALF DISME below and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around it.
Where the cataloged coins were made
Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.
- P — Philadelphia: 1792; Mintage not reported. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.
Representative issues that explain the series
Treat the 1792 half disme as a specialized early-federal type whose attribution, surfaces, weight, and provenance require expert attention.
- 1792 — N/A. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
Issue catalog
From one type coin to a complete catalog
- One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
- Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
- Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.
Catalog status note
Two source-derived rows currently share the same 1792 identity and contain no reported mintages or grade values. They remain visible for audit continuity, but the page does not count them as separate production deliveries.
Sources
- Coinage Act of April 2, 1792 — United States Mint
- Dime: Designs and History — United States Mint
- Bust Half Dime category reference — PCGS CoinFacts