Classic Head Half Cent (1809-1836)
by Q. David Bowers
The so-called Classic Head design by John Reich made its appearance on half cents in 1809, postdating by one year its debut in the large cent series. A somewhat related motif, by William Kneass, was used years later on the $2.50 and $5 gold coins of 1834.
Miss Liberty faces left. Her hair is in curls, close to her head, and is secured by a band inscribed LIBERTY. Seven stars are to the left and six to the right. The date is below.
It is not known exactly where the Classic Head originated. Its nearest possible prototype is Polykleitos' Diadoumenos or "Athlete Tying the Fillet" (Breen). However, it is curious that the Greek youth tying the fillet - a ribbon signifying victory and worn only by boy athletes - would have been a prototype for Liberty who is traditionally a female goddess.
The reverse consists of a continuous wreath tied at the bottom with a ribbon, enclosing HALF CENT at the center, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the border.
Follow this external link to learn more about 1809-1836 Half Cents
REGULAR STRIKES (scroll down for PROOFS)
- PCGS 1123 - 1809 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 35218 - 1809 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 35221 - 1809 1/2C Cohen 2, BN
- PCGS 35224 - 1809 1/2C Cohen 3, BN
- PCGS 35227 - 1809 1/2C Cohen 6, BN
- PCGS 1129 - 1809 1/2C Circle in 0, BN
- PCGS 35230 - 1809 1/2C Cohen 4, BN
- PCGS 1126 - 1809/6 1/2C 9 over inverted 9, BN
- PCGS 35233 - 1809/6 1/2C C-5 9 over inverted 9, BN
- PCGS 1132 - 1810 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 35236 - 1810 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 1135 - 1811 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 1138 - 1811 1/2C Mickley Restrike, BN
- PCGS 1141 - 1825 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 35246 - 1825 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 35249 - 1825 1/2C Cohen 2, BN
- PCGS 1144 - 1826 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 35252 - 1826 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 35255 - 1826 1/2C Cohen 2, BN
- PCGS 1147 - 1828 1/2C 13 Stars, BN
- PCGS 35258 - 1828 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 35264 - 1828 1/2C Cohen 2, BN
- PCGS 35261 - 1828 1/2C Cohen 3, BN
- PCGS 1150 - 1828 1/2C 12 Stars, BN
- PCGS 1153 - 1829 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 35267 - 1829 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 1156 - 1831 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 35270 - 1831 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 1159 - 1832 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 35273 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 35276 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 2, BN
- PCGS 35279 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 3, BN
- PCGS 1162 - 1833 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 35282 - 1833 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 1165 - 1834 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 35285 - 1834 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 1168 - 1835 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 35288 - 1835 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 35291 - 1835 1/2C Cohen 2, BN
PROOFS
- PCGS 1186 - 1831 1/2C Original, BN
- PCGS 1189 - 1831 Res 1/2C Reverse of 1836, BN
- PCGS 1192 - 1831 Res 1/2C Reverse of 1840, BN
- PCGS 1195 - 1832 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 35294 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 35295 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 1, RB
- PCGS 35296 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 1, RD
- PCGS 35297 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 2, BN
- PCGS 35298 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 2, RB
- PCGS 35299 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 2, RD
- PCGS 35300 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 3, BN
- PCGS 35301 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 3, RB
- PCGS 35302 - 1832 1/2C Cohen 3, RD
- PCGS 1198 - 1833 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 1199 - 1833 1/2C, RB
- PCGS 1200 - 1833 1/2C, RD
- PCGS 35303 - 1833 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 35304 - 1833 1/2C Cohen 1, RB
- PCGS 35305 - 1833 1/2C Cohen 1, RD
- PCGS 1201 - 1834 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 1202 - 1834 1/2C, RB
- PCGS 1203 - 1834 1/2C, RD
- PCGS 35306 - 1834 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 35307 - 1834 1/2C Cohen 1, RB
- PCGS 35308 - 1834 1/2C Cohen 1, RD
- PCGS 1204 - 1835 1/2C, BN
- PCGS 1205 - 1835 1/2C, RB
- PCGS 1206 - 1835 1/2C, RD
- PCGS 35309 - 1835 1/2C Cohen 1, BN
- PCGS 35310 - 1835 1/2C Cohen 1, RB
- PCGS 35311 - 1835 1/2C Cohen 1, RD
- PCGS 35312 - 1835 1/2C Cohen 2, BN
- PCGS 35313 - 1835 1/2C Cohen 2, RB
- PCGS 35314 - 1835 1/2C Cohen 2, RD
- PCGS 1207 - 1836 1/2C Original, BN
- PCGS 1208 - 1836 1/2C Original, RB
- PCGS 1209 - 1836 1/2C Original, RD
- PCGS 35315 - 1836 Res 1/2C Rev 1836, BN
- PCGS 35316 - 1836 Res 1/2C Rev 1836, RB
- PCGS 35317 - 1836 Res 1/2C Rev 1836, RD
- PCGS 1210 - 1836 Res 1/2C Reverse of 1840, BN
- PCGS 1211 - 1836 Res 1/2C Reverse of 1840, RB
- PCGS 1212 - 1836 Res 1/2C Reverse of 1840, RD
