½ Cent obverse½ Cent reverse
United States

½ Cent

United States · Copper

The coin

The story

The Half Cent — the smallest coin America ever made

In 1793 the brand-new United States Mint struck a coin worth one two-hundredth of a dollar — five mills, half of one cent. No U.S. coin before or since has been worth less. It ran for 64 years, was never much loved, and died by act of Congress.

Read the full story