Early Coinage

1800-1808 Draped Bust Half Cent Fine

23.5mm

1800-1808 Draped Bust Half Cent Good

The all-copper U.S. half cent could purchase a number of items in its day. And it was convenient in making change for the Spanish-American silver real (royal), which retained legal-tender status in the U.S.A. as a 12_ cent coin until 1857. Much bigger...

1809-1835 Classic Head Half Cent Good

Substantially larger than modern U.S. cents, 100% copper half cents could buy any number of items in early 19th century America. And they made change for the Spanish-American silver real, which had legal tender status in the U.S.A. as a 12 1/2 cent piece...

1809-1836 Classic Head Half Cent Fine

The U.S. half cent was produced intermittently for six decades, but mintages were often interrupted and existing issues melted for their 100% copper content. Today, this denomination seems a true oddity, but it could buy any number of useful items in...

1816-1935 Matron Head Large Cent Very Good

Early U.S. Mint cents were modeled on familiar British copper pennies of the day. That's why they were called pennies rather than the official cent. They were significantly larger than the one cent coins of today. A wide variety of engravings were...

1829-1837 Capped Bust 1/2 Dime Fine

The silver half dime enjoys the distinction of being the first coin denomination struck by the fledgling U.S. Mint, in 1794. The 1829-1837 type presents a buxom Liberty wearing a large liberty cap, the ancient emblem of hard-won freedom; eagle with...

1829-1837 Capped Bust 1/2 Dime Good

Date of our choice.

1838-1859 Seated Liberty 1/2 Dime with Stars Fine

The 1838-1853 silver half dime type surrounds a Seated Liberty with 13 stars representing the original states; on the reverse side is a traditional laurel wreath.Date of our choice.15.5mm

1838-1859 Seated Liberty Silver Half Dime Good

The Seated Liberty engraving was modeled off of Britannia, the figure shown on British coinage. The small 90% silver half dime was the five-cent denomination used from the 1790s until the 1860s when the first nickels were introduced into American...

1849-1857 Braided Hair Half Cent Fine

23mm

1851-1873 Three Cent Silver Fine

The 1851-1855 silver 3 cent piece (or trime) was useful in buying standard 3 cent stamps in its day. It has a distinctive shield within star obverse and Roman numeral III within C (100) reverse. Date of our choice.14mm

1851-1873 Three Cent Silver Good

As a result of penny shortages, in 1851 Congress authorized the issuance of silver three-cent pieces, or trimes. This new denomination was convenient for purchasing newly-issued three-cent stamps sold by the government. The obverse design featured a...

1853-1855 Seated Liberty 1/2 Dime with Arrows Fine

Curiously, the half dime was the first U.S. Mint coin struck in 1792 Ì´ÌÃ" and the Seated Liberty type was the last half dime issued. Just 61 million were struck for commerce in the 36-year run and the Arrow at Date type was only minted for three...

1853-1855 Seated Liberty 1/2 Dime with Arrows Good

U.S. 1853-1855 Seated Liberty Half Dime. The long-obsolete silver half dime was the first U.S. Mint coin struck in 1792 and shared the Seated Liberty design with the U.S. dime, quarter, half dollar, and silver dollar. We are offering the Arrow at Date...

1860-1873 Seated Liberty 1/2 Dime with Legend Fine

The 1860-1873 silver half dime type transferred the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA to the Seated Liberty side; agricultural wreath reverse with wheat, corn, cotton and tobacco. Well preserved Fine condition. Date of our choice.15.5mm

1860-1873 Seated Liberty 1/2 Dime with Legend Good

Date of our choice.

1864 Copper 2¢ Piece & 1865 3¢ Nickel Good with Lincoln Presidential Dollars

The curious copper 2¢ piece and 3¢ nickel both came to be as a result of the Civil War. As the war raged on and 16th President Lincoln fought to keep the U.S. unified, small change became scarce. After the war, nickel was no longer needed for armaments...

1864-1871 Two Cent Piece Fine

This curious two cent piece was introduced during the Civil War, after a severe coin shortage developed. It's a great collector favorite today, partly because it was the first coin to carry the inscription In God We Trust. In its short minting span a...

1864-1871 Two Cent Piece Good

Yes, there once was a real U.S. 2 cent piece! This short-lived and long-obsolete coin introduced the first inscription of In God We Trust. The motto appeared because of increased religious sentiment during the Civil War. By 1864, the conflict had taken a...

1865 2 Cent Piece & 3 Cent Nickel Pair Good

This original odd couple of American numismatics came about due in part to the coin shortage that developed during the Civil War. The bronze 2¢ coin is a great collector favorite today — noteworthy for the first appearance of the motto, IN GOD WE TRUST...

1865-1889 Three Cent Nickel Fine

U.S. 1865-1889 Liberty 3 Cent Nickel. Obsolete for well over a century, this historic coin was introduced after the Civil War, when super-hard nickel was no longer needed for armaments. Only 32 million ever existed. Even in their own day there weren't...

1865-1889 Three Cent Nickel Good

U.S. 1865-1889 Liberty 3 Cent Nickel. Obsolete for well over a century, this historic coin was introduced after the Civil War, when super-hard nickel was no longer needed for armaments. Only 32 million ever existed. Even in their own day there weren't...

1875-1878 Twenty Cent Silver Seated Liberty Fine

The quickly retired 1875-1878 U.S. silver 20 cent denomination was struck for the Old West, where 5 cent and 10 cent pieces were in short supply. However, the Seated Liberty obverse was identical to that of the quarter then in use and the close...

1875-1878 Twenty Cent Silver Seated Liberty Good