Liberty Cap half cents belong to the earliest federal copper production, shifting from a left-facing 1793 portrait to a right-facing design with important edge and pole variations.
This guide covers Philadelphia half cents dated 1793–1797, separated into the Head Left and Head Right catalog types and their recorded edge and design subtypes.
Core specifications
- Issue period
- 1793–1797
- Catalog mints
- 1
- Reported catalog mintage
- 520,454
- Composition
- 100% Copper
- Diameter
- Varies by type
- Weight
- 6.74 g
Small change from a young Philadelphia Mint
The Coinage Act placed the half cent at the bottom of the decimal system. Producing useful copper money still challenged the new Mint's equipment, planchets, and supply chain.
The one-year Head Left type gave way to a right-facing Liberty Cap portrait. Lettered, plain, and gripped edges and the presence of the cap pole make the series especially dependent on complete identification.
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 wears or is accompanied by a liberty cap and pole; portrait direction, pole details, and the date identify the principal subtype.
Denomination, subject, and mint mark
A wreath surrounds HALF CENT and the fraction 1/200, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the edge.
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: 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797; 520,454. 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
One coin from each portrait direction forms a concise type set; edge varieties and 1796–1797 subtypes are specialist territory.
- 1793 P - Head Facing Left — 35,334. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1795 P - Lettered Edge with Pole — 25,600. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1796 P - No Pole — N/A. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1797 P - Lettered Edge — N/A. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
- 1797 P - Plain Edge — 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.
A note on catalog records
This page uses 17 issue records, 0 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.
Sources
- Copper Half-Cent and One-Cent Coin Legislation — United States Mint
- Penny: Designs and History — United States Mint
- Liberty Cap Half Cent category reference — PCGS CoinFacts