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Greysheet & CPG® PRICE GUIDE

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About This Series

The Greysheet Catalog (GSID) of the Classic Head Half Cents (1809–1836) series of Half Cents in the U.S. Coins contains 79 distinct entries with CPG® values between $80.00 and $403,000.00.
Half cents were struck by the United States Mint from 1793 through 1857 and were the nation's smallest circulating denomination. They were made from a pure copper composition from 1793 through 1837 and a bronze composition (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) from 1837 through 1857, when the coin became impractical and effectively unnecessary due to economic inflation.

All half cents were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, so none carry any mintmarks. There was also several design changes made to the half cent during the six decades of the denomination's run.

These designs include the following types:

  • Liberty Cap half cent (1793-1797)
  • Draped Bust half cent (1800-1808)
  • Classic Head half cent (1809-1836)
  • Braided Hair half cent (1840-1857)


Numismatists generally regard all half cents as scarce, though many of the earliest dates are especially challenging, as are choice, original red specimens in uncirculated condition regardless of the date. Meanwhile, dealers and collectors who deal in circulated pieces usually prefer evenly struck pieces with chocolate-brown patina. Unfortunately, many half cents are encountered with holes, heavy scratches, and porous or cleaned surfaces. As is the case with all older copper coinage, problem-free half cents are challenging to come by and often sell quickly when offered for sale.

Important Note Regarding Early Copper Pricing: Early American copper issues (colonials, half cents and large cents) are an especially challenging area to determine and fix accurate market values. The issues listed in CDN publications represent the wholesale prices of coins that are problem free and strictly graded, especially as they compare to other examples of the same issue. Any number of factors can influence (decrease or increase) the value of early large cents, including mint-made problems (planchet flaws, poor strikes, etc.) and post-mint problems (corrosion, improper cleaning, environmental damage, and more). The prices listed here are intended to serve as a guideline and starting point for discussion and negotiations of valuation, but the CDN editors strongly encourage buyers to seek expert advice in this field before purchasing coins of high value.

Catalog Detail

  Classic Head Half Cents (1809–1836) Value Range Favorite
Classic Head Half Cents (1809–1836) Value Range  
Classic Head Half Cent 1/2c 1809-1836 MS BN Type Coin
$80.00
-
$9,750
$80.00 - $9,750
Classic Head Half Cent 1/2c 1809-1836 MS RB Type Coin
$525
-
$12,000
$525 - $12,000
Classic Head Half Cent 1/2c 1809-1836 MS RD Type Coin
$900
-
$14,500
$900 - $14,500
1809 1/2c MS BN
$80.00
-
$25,000
$80.00 - $25,000
1809 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$1,250
-
$93,500
$1,250 - $93,500
1809 1/2c Normal Date, C-2 MS BN
$85.00
-
$13,000
$85.00 - $13,000
1809 1/2c C-3 MS BN
$80.00
-
$25,000
$80.00 - $25,000
1809 1/2c C-6 MS BN
$80.00
-
$25,000
$80.00 - $25,000
1809 1/2c MS RB
$3,000
-
$72,000
$3,000 - $72,000
1809 1/2c Normal Date, C-2 MS RB
-
 
1809 1/2c Normal Date, C-2 MS RD
-
 
1809 1/2c Large O over Small o MS BN
$110.00
-
$86,500
$110.00 - $86,500
1809 1/2c Large O over Small o, C-4 MS BN
$110.00
-
$86,500
$110.00 - $86,500
1809 1/2c 9 Over Inverted 9 MS BN
$85.00
-
$21,500
$85.00 - $21,500
1809 1/2c 9 Over Inverted 9, C-5 MS BN
$85.00
-
$21,500
$85.00 - $21,500

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1809 1/2c 9 Over Inverted 9 MS RB
$6,250
-
$33,500
$6,250 - $33,500
1810 1/2c MS BN
$95.00
-
$15,500
$95.00 - $15,500
1810 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$95.00
-
$15,500
$95.00 - $15,500
1810 1/2c MS RB
$5,000
-
$14,500
$5,000 - $14,500
1811 1/2c MS BN
$235.00
-
$288,000
$235.00 - $288,000
1811 1/2c Wide Date, C-1 MS BN
$235.00
-
$288,000
$235.00 - $288,000
1811 1/2c Close Date, C-2 MS BN
$265
-
$288,000
$265 - $288,000
1811 1/2c MS RB
$144,000
-
$403,000
$144,000 - $403,000
1811 1/2c Mickley Restrike, Reverse of 1802 MS BN
$4,400
-
$32,500
$4,400 - $32,500
1811 1/2c Mickley Restrike, Reverse of 1802 MS RB
$13,000
-
$21,500
$13,000 - $21,500
1825 1/2c MS BN
$85.00
-
$12,500
$85.00 - $12,500
1825 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$105.00
-
$21,500
$105.00 - $21,500
1825 1/2c C-2 MS BN
$85.00
-
$12,500
$85.00 - $12,500
1825 1/2c MS RB
$3,500
-
$19,000
$3,500 - $19,000
1825 1/2c C-2 MS RB
-
 
1825 1/2c C-2 MS RD
-
 
1826 1/2c MS BN
$80.00
-
$12,000
$80.00 - $12,000
1826 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$80.00
-
$9,750
$80.00 - $9,750
1826 1/2c C-2 MS BN
$80.00
-
$9,750
$80.00 - $9,750
1826 1/2c MS RB
$1,500
-
$18,000
$1,500 - $18,000
1828 1/2c 13 Stars MS BN
$80.00
-
$2,200
$80.00 - $2,200
1828 1/2c 13 Stars, C-1 MS BN
$80.00
-
$2,200
$80.00 - $2,200
1828 1/2c 13 Stars, C-3 MS BN
$80.00
-
$2,200
$80.00 - $2,200
1828 1/2c 13 Stars MS RB
$575
-
$12,000
$575 - $12,000
1828 1/2c 13 Stars, C-1 MS RB
$575
-
$12,000
$575 - $12,000
1828 1/2c 13 Stars, C-3 MS RB
$575
-
$12,000
$575 - $12,000
1828 1/2c 13 Stars MS RD
$1,150
-
$14,500
$1,150 - $14,500
1828 1/2c 13 Stars, C-1 MS RD
$1,150
-
$14,500
$1,150 - $14,500
1828 1/2c 13 Stars, C-3 MS RD
$900
-
$14,500
$900 - $14,500

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1828 1/2c 12 Stars MS BN
$80.00
-
$20,000
$80.00 - $20,000
1828 1/2c 12 Stars, C-2 MS BN
$80.00
-
$20,000
$80.00 - $20,000
1828 1/2c 12 Stars MS RB
$3,000
-
$41,000
$3,000 - $41,000
1828 1/2c 12 Stars, C-2 MS RB
-
 
1828 1/2c 12 Stars, C-2 MS RD
-
 
1829 1/2c MS BN
$80.00
-
$14,500
$80.00 - $14,500
1829 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$80.00
-
$14,500
$80.00 - $14,500
1829 1/2c MS RB
$2,500
-
$41,000
$2,500 - $41,000
1829 1/2c MS RD
$33,000
-
$39,500
$33,000 - $39,500
1831 1/2c MS BN
$5,750
-
$101,000
$5,750 - $101,000
1831 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$5,750
-
$101,000
$5,750 - $101,000
1832 1/2c MS BN
$80.00
-
$11,500
$80.00 - $11,500
1832 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$90.00
-
$12,000
$90.00 - $12,000
1832 1/2c C-2 MS BN
$80.00
-
$11,500
$80.00 - $11,500
1832 1/2c C-3 MS BN
$80.00
-
$11,500
$80.00 - $11,500
1832 1/2c MS RB
$775
-
$21,500
$775 - $21,500
1832 1/2c C-2 MS RB
-
 
1832 1/2c C-2 MS RD
-
 
1833 1/2c MS BN
$80.00
-
$14,500
$80.00 - $14,500
1833 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$80.00
-
$14,500
$80.00 - $14,500
1833 1/2c MS RB
$775
-
$14,000
$775 - $14,000
1833 1/2c MS RD
$1,150
-
$14,500
$1,150 - $14,500
1834 1/2c MS BN
$80.00
-
$3,300
$80.00 - $3,300
1834 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$80.00
-
$3,300
$80.00 - $3,300
1834 1/2c MS RB
$525
-
$12,000
$525 - $12,000

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1834 1/2c MS RD
$2,250
-
$17,500
$2,250 - $17,500
1835 1/2c MS BN
$80.00
-
$3,300
$80.00 - $3,300
1835 1/2c C-1 MS BN
$80.00
-
$3,300
$80.00 - $3,300
1835 1/2c C-2 MS BN
$80.00
-
$3,300
$80.00 - $3,300
1835 1/2c MS RB
$575
-
$12,000
$575 - $12,000
1835 1/2c C-1 MS RB
-
 
1835 1/2c C-2 MS RB
-
 
1835 1/2c MS RD
$900
-
$14,500
$900 - $14,500
1835 1/2c C-1 MS RD
-
 
1835 1/2c C-2 MS RD
-
 
       

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Greysheet Catalog Details

The Greysheet Catalog (GSID) of the Classic Head Half Cents (1809–1836) series of Half Cents in the U.S. Coins contains 79 distinct entries with CPG® values between $80.00 and $403,000.00.
Half cents were struck by the United States Mint from 1793 through 1857 and were the nation's smallest circulating denomination. They were made from a pure copper composition from 1793 through 1837 and a bronze composition (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) from 1837 through 1857, when the coin became impractical and effectively unnecessary due to economic inflation.

All half cents were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, so none carry any mintmarks. There was also several design changes made to the half cent during the six decades of the denomination's run.

These designs include the following types:

  • Liberty Cap half cent (1793-1797)
  • Draped Bust half cent (1800-1808)
  • Classic Head half cent (1809-1836)
  • Braided Hair half cent (1840-1857)


Numismatists generally regard all half cents as scarce, though many of the earliest dates are especially challenging, as are choice, original red specimens in uncirculated condition regardless of the date. Meanwhile, dealers and collectors who deal in circulated pieces usually prefer evenly struck pieces with chocolate-brown patina. Unfortunately, many half cents are encountered with holes, heavy scratches, and porous or cleaned surfaces. As is the case with all older copper coinage, problem-free half cents are challenging to come by and often sell quickly when offered for sale.

Important Note Regarding Early Copper Pricing: Early American copper issues (colonials, half cents and large cents) are an especially challenging area to determine and fix accurate market values. The issues listed in CDN publications represent the wholesale prices of coins that are problem free and strictly graded, especially as they compare to other examples of the same issue. Any number of factors can influence (decrease or increase) the value of early large cents, including mint-made problems (planchet flaws, poor strikes, etc.) and post-mint problems (corrosion, improper cleaning, environmental damage, and more). The prices listed here are intended to serve as a guideline and starting point for discussion and negotiations of valuation, but the CDN editors strongly encourage buyers to seek expert advice in this field before purchasing coins of high value.

Catalog Detail