Diagnostic Controls & Presets First US Half Cent Struck
Diagnostic Forensic Readings
Forensic Attribution Diagnostic
Real-time metallurgical and die variety cross-examination verified against certified populations.
Technical Breakdown: Physics, Metallurgy & Die Diagnostics
Struck between July 20 and July 26, 1793 under Mint Director David Rittenhouse in Philadelphia (35,334 coins struck).
Every other regular-issue Liberty Head coin struck by the US Mint from 1793 to 1947 depicts Liberty facing right!
Documented Benchmark Auction Records
All-time world auction record for a half cent; magnificent satiny mint bloom with razor-sharp cap folds.
Exceptional eye appeal with green CAC approval; original glossy chocolate patina without porosity.
Honest early American pocket survivor with complete edge inscription: TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the 1793 Liberty Cap Half Cent unique in US history?
It is the very first half cent coined by the United States, and it is the ONLY regular-issue US coin in history where Miss Liberty faces toward the LEFT! Starting in 1794, the Mint reversed the design so that Liberty faced right on all half cents and large cents.
What is the Phrygian cap and pole on Liberty's shoulder?
The Phrygian cap (or pileus) was worn by freed slaves in ancient Rome to indicate their emancipation. Placed on a pole behind Liberty's head, it symbolizes the hard-won freedom and sovereign liberty of the young American Republic.
What is inscribed on the edge of a 1793 Half Cent?
The edge features an incuse lettered inscription: 'TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR' followed by a small decorative leaf, applied on a Castaing machine before striking.
How many 1793 Half Cents were struck?
Exactly 35,334 coins were struck between July 20 and July 26, 1793, at the first Philadelphia Mint before the facility was evacuated due to the yellow fever epidemic.
How many varieties exist for the 1793 Half Cent?
Dr. Roger S. Cohen, Jr. cataloged four distinct die varieties (Cohen-1 through Cohen-4) created from four obverse dies and four reverse dies.
How many 1793 Half Cents survive today?
Researchers estimate that only about 800 to 1,000 specimens survive across all conditions today, with only a dozen known in Mint State.
How much is a genuine 1793 Liberty Cap Half Cent worth?
Even in heavily worn Good-4 condition, a genuine certified 1793 half cent sells for $7,500 to $11,000. In Very Fine condition, it commands $28,000 to $45,000. In About Uncirculated condition, it brings $120,000 to $180,000, while top Mint State specimens have sold for nearly $1,000,000.