Classic U.S. Coins: Half Cents Quiz

Answer: Copper

The half cent (and the large cent) were both made out of pure copper. Both coins were part of a general trend where the metallic content of a coin was pretty close to its face value. Many of those other metals would have the coin a greater face value. In the 1790s, a half cent had mass of 6.7 grams of copper. By 1797, the amount of metal dropped to 5.4 grams

Answer: Quarter dollar

During the course of its run, the half cent varied in size between 22 and 23.5 millimeters in diameter. By comparison, the quarter was just a bit larger at about 24.26 millimeters. That combination of low value and large size helped to make the half cent an unpopular coin during the nineteenth century.

Answer: The image flipped from facing left to facing right

The design of the obverse featured a woman's bust (head and shoulders) with shoulder length, flowing hair. Behind the woman's head was a pole with a Phrygian (Liberty) cap. In 1793 the design faced to the left. From 1794-1794, the design flipped so it faced to the right.

Answer: In God we trust

The phrase "In God we trust" would not start appearing on US coins until the late 1800s. The other phrased were required by law. In addition, the coins also included the year minted. Interestingly, half cents and large cents also frequently included printing on the edge of the coin also.

Answer: 1804

The mintage of half cents in 1804 was 1,055,312. The only other year that more than 1,000,000 half cents were minted was in 1809 when 1,154,572 were minted. Perhaps relatively few were minted because not many people would need more than one or two half cents. The reader should also remember the small size of early US population-only about 4,000,000 in 1790.

Answer: Philadelphia

Since all half cents were made in Philadelphia, they were all minted without mint marks. Half cents were made between 1793 and 1857, though not every year. Half cents represent the lowest denomination U. S. Coin made.

Answer: Gilbert Stuart

The obverse of the coin was based on a painting of Ann Willing Bingham by Gilbert Stuart. Chief Engraver Robert Scot transferred the painting into a coin design. Robert Scot and John Gardner designed the reverse of the Half cents.

Answer: Long and curly

The image of liberty was designed by John Reich. The figure wore elaborate curly hair that went past the shoulder. Reich's design was used for the half cent and large cents. A similar design for some gold coins was created by William Kneass.

Answer: Braided Hair

The Braided Hair obverse was used from 1840-1857. Through most of the 1840s, half cents were only issued in very small numbers as proofs. Christian Gobrecht designed the coin. The bust cut off at the base of the neck.

Answer: True

The first increase in the cost of copper was in the 1840s. An attempted workaround for this were ring shaped patterns that were made from billon (a copper and silver mix). After a temporary drop in the price of copper a second increase in the 1850s led to an end of the half cent in 1857.