Half Disme (1792)
Half Disme (1792): identify, compare, and value
Use this page to identify details collectors compare, understand value clues, and check current market examples.
Value Guide Summary
Use this page to understand what this collectible is, what details collectors usually compare, and where to check current market examples.
What collectors look for
Original condition, age, maker marks, materials, completeness, unusual variants, and documented history usually matter most.
How to identify examples
Compare markings, construction details, finish, size, period-correct materials, and known design features before assuming authenticity.
Value clues
Rarity, demand, condition, eye appeal, provenance, and whether similar examples are actively selling can all affect market value.
Red flags
Watch for reproductions, heavy restoration, replaced parts, fantasy pieces, unclear photos, and listings with vague descriptions.
This exciting virtual Gem example of the first silver coin of the new United States boasts deep blue toning with enticing gold highlights that bathes both sides in the gunmetal splendor of antique silver. All obverse detail is crisply defined, notably the intricate hair that cascades down her head and wraps around her shoulders. Liberty is surrounded by the legend LIB. PAR. OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY, a motto suggestive of the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. The reverse presents an eagle flying l. within the legend UNI. STATES OF AMERICA over the boldly stated denomination HALF/ DISME. This coin displays a marvelous strike free of the usual weakness on the highest points.
The Half Disme, sometimes spelled as "Half Dime," is one of the most historically significant and sought-after early American coins. It was minted in 1792, marking one of the first official coinage efforts by the newly established United States Mint. The term "disme" was an early spelling of the word "dime," signifying a coin worth one-tenth of a dollar.
The design of the Half Disme is often attributed to Robert Scot, the first Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. However, the exact designer remains a subject of debate among numismatists as some believe the designer to have been William Russell Birch.