1857 USA Half Dime F-VF (F-15)

1857 USA Half Dime F-VF (F-15)

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 These coins were originally made of silver, but in the 1860s, the composition switches to a copper-nickel alloy.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: Seated Liberty, looking to the left over her shoulder, with a hat on a stick and a shield, 13 stars representing the original 13 colonies around, and date below.
Reverse: Denomination within a wreath, the country name around.

Specifications:
Engraver: Christian Gobrecht
Composition: 0.900 silver, 0.100 copper
Weight: 1.24 g
Diameter: 15.5 mm
Edge: Reeded
Die Axis: ↑ ↓
Mint: Philadelphia, USA
Mintage: 7,280,000