Saturday 19th May 2012

Draped Bust Half Cent 1800 - 1808

Vital Stats. Designer: Robert Scot Diameter: 23.5 mm, Edge: Plain Metal Content: 100% copper Weight: 5.44 grams Year/ Mint Mark Circulation Strikes 1800 202,908 1802 20,266 1803 92,300 1804 1,055,312 1805 814,464 1806 356,000 1807 476,000 1808 400,000

Typical (pop. 3,411) "Draped Bust" Half Cent Spiked Chin Example 1802 / 1800 Example 1807/7 Example "Stem" and "No Stem" Example Half Cents dated 1800 were the first to bear Scot's Draped Bust design. Liberty was based on a drawing by Gilbert Stuart of Mrs. William Bingham. Stuart, perhaps the most famous American portrait painter of his time, finished his sketch in 1795.

Determined to eliminate the existing Flowing Hair designs, Mint Director Henry William DeSaussure promptly ordered John Eckstein to make bas-relief models from Stuart's drawing. In Eckstein's hands, a proportioned beauty emerged as a distinctly full figured matron. The new Liberty appeared on the 1795 dollar and on minor silver coins and large cents in 1796. It was not placed on the half cents until 1800, with Liberty above and the date below. The new coins of 1800 continued with the existing reverse already in use.

Like the large cents, Draped Bust half cents also boasts many minor varieties. About 10% were struck on stock made from cut-down large cents rolled out by the Mint's horse-powered mill, with the balance made in England.

The "Draped Bust" image appears on numerous coins, and was used for several years. Many of these coins were used to make jewelry, which may partially account for their scaresity.