Draped Bust half dollars pair a formal Liberty portrait with a rare small-eagle beginning and a longer heraldic-eagle run after production resumed in 1801.

This guide covers the 1796–1797 small-eagle type and the 1801–1807 heraldic-eagle type, including cataloged star and die varieties.

Core specifications

Issue period
1796–1807
Catalog mints
1
Reported catalog mintage
1,604,705
Composition
89% Silver - 11% Copper
Diameter
32.5 mm
Weight
13.48 g

A denomination returns with a stronger national emblem

The half dollar adopted the Draped Bust portrait in 1796, but production stopped after 1797. Those small-eagle issues are scarce and include the famous 15-star and 16-star obverses.

When half-dollar production returned in 1801, the reverse used a heraldic eagle with shield. That design carried the denomination through 1807 and supplies most attainable examples of the series.

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

A draped and tied-haired Liberty faces right, with LIBERTY above, the date below, and stars around the field.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

The 1796–1797 type shows a small eagle in a wreath; the 1801–1807 type shows a heraldic eagle with shield, clouds, and stars.

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: 1796, 1797, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1805, 1806, 1807; 1,604,705. 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

Separate the two reverse types first. Then study date, die marriage, star count, strike, adjustment marks, and surfaces.

  • 1796 P - 15 Stars — 3,918. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1801 P — 30,289. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1807 P — 301,076. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.

Issue catalog

1796 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - 15 Stars1796 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - 16 Stars1797 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - 15 Stars1801 P Draped Bust Half Dollar1802 P Draped Bust Half Dollar1803 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - All Varieties1803 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - Small 31803 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - Large 31805 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - All Varieties1805 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - Normal Date1805 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - 5 Over 41806 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - All Varieties1806 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - Knobbed 6 - Large Stars1806 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - Knobbed 6 - Small Stars1806 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - Knobbed 6 - Stem Not Through Claw1806 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - Pointed 6 - Stem Not Through Claw1806 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - Pointed 6 - Stem Through Claw1806 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - E Over A in STATES1806 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - 6 Over 51806 P Draped Bust Half Dollar - 6 Over Inverted 61807 P Draped Bust Half Dollar

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.

A note on catalog records

This page uses 21 issue records, 0 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.

Sources

  1. History of U.S. Circulating Coins — United States Mint
  2. Half Dollar Coins — United States Mint
  3. Draped Bust Half Dollar category reference — PCGS CoinFacts