The half dime, or half disme, was a silver coin, valued at five cents, formerly minted in the United States.
Some numismatists consider the denomination to be the first coin minted by the United States Mint under the Coinage Act of 1792, with production beginning on or about July 1792. However, others consider the 1792 half disme to be nothing more than a pattern coin, or 'test piece', and this matter continues to be subject to debate.
These coins were much smaller than dimes in diameter and thickness, appearing to be "half dimes". In the 1860s, powerful nickel interests successfully lobbied for the creation of new coins, which would be made of a copper-nickel alloy; production of such coins began in 1865, and were struck in two denominations — three and five cents (the latter introduced in 1866).
The introduction of the copper-nickel five-cent pieces made the silver coins of the same denomination redundant, and they were discontinued in 1873.
The following types of half dimes were produced by the United States Mint or under the authority of the Coinage Act of 1792:
Read more about Half Dime: 1792 Half Disme, Flowing Hair 1794-1795, Draped Bust (Small Eagle Reverse) 1796-1797, Draped Bust (Heraldic Eagle Reverse) 1800-1805, Capped Bust 1829-1837, Seated Liberty (various Subtypes) 1837-1873, 1870-S Half Dime, Canada
Famous quotes containing the word dime:
“In the dime stores and bus stations,
People talk of situations,
Read books, repeat quotations,
Draw conclusions on the wall.”
—Bob Dylan [Robert Allen Zimmerman] (b. 1941)