Draped Bust Lg Eagle Half Dime (1800-05)
Mint Mark Information

No half dimes were issued in 1798 or 1799. Yellow fever epidemics and other difficulties interfered with Mint operations.

When Draped Bust Half Dime production resumed in 1800, the small eagle on the reverse was replaced by a larger, heraldic eagle. The smaller bird was not well received because its scrawny body conveyed an image of national weakness, in the opinion of more than just a few observers.

The Draped Bust Large Eagle Half Dime lasted until 1805, when half dime production was discontinued. Since the Mexican half reale, worth about 6 cents, was circulating in abundant quantities, the Mint elected to divert half dime resources toward the production of other US coinage denominations.

The half dime moratorium lasted until 1829, when the first of the Capped Bust design was released.

Draped Bust Half Dime Obverse

Draped Bust Large Eagle
Half Dime Reverse

There are no Mint Marks to be found on the Draped Bust Large Eagle Half Dime, as summarized in this table:

The reason why there are no Mint Marks on the Draped Bust Half Dime with Large Eagle reverse is because all of them were made at the Philadelphia Mint, which did not use a Mint Mark in those years. An example coin from this series is pictured at right with permission from Goldberg Coins.

The addition of any Draped Bust Half Dime is a significant upgrade to just about anyone's collection. Use the link below to find certified examples from 1800 to 1805 for sale on eBay.

1800-05 Drape Bust Half Dime