1834 USA Half Dime EF-AU (EF45) $

The half dime, or half disme, was one of the first coins to be produced by the US Mint, with about 1,500 half dismes struck in 1792, though it is debated that this first coin was only a test piece. In 1794, production resumed using the "Flowing Hair" design, and the "s" in disme was dropped, as many had trouble pronouncing the word disme ("deem"), and the half disme became the half dime. These coins were originally made of silver, but in the 1860s, the composition switched to a copper-nickel alloy. As the introduction of this new alloyed coin made the silver coins redundant, the half dime was discontinued in favour of the coin we now know as the nickel.

Obverse: Liberty cap head facing left, surrounded by 13 stars representing the original 13 states, and the date below.
Reverse: An eagle with arrows in its talons, with a banner above, denomination "5 C." below, and country name around.

Specifications:
Engraver: William Kneass
Designer: John Reich
Composition: 0.8924 silver, 1076 copper
Weight: 1.35 g
Diameter: 15.5 mm
Edge: Reeded
Die Axis: ↑ ↓
Mint: Philadelphia, USA
Mintage: 1,480,000