The half cent was the smallest denomination of United States coin ever minted. It was first minted in 1793 and last minted in 1857. It was minted with five different designs. History First authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792 on April 2, 1792, the coin was produced in the United States from 1793 to 1857. The half-cent piece was made of 100% copper and was valued at five milles, or one two-hundredth of a dollar. It was slightly smaller than a modern U.S. quarter with diameters 22 mm (1793), 23.5 mm (1794–1836) and 23 mm (1840–1857). Coinage was discontinued by the Coinage Act of February 21, 1857. They were all produced at the Philadelphia Mint. Design varieties There are several different types of half cents: Liberty Cap, Facing left (designed/engraved by Henry Voigt) – issued 1793 Liberty Cap, Facing right (large head designed by Robert Scot, small head designed by Scot-John Gardner, engraved by Robert Scot) – issued 1794 to 1797 Draped Bust (obverse designed by Gilbert Stuart and Robert Scot, reverse designed by Scot-John Gardner, engraved by Robert Scot) – issued 1800 to 1808 Classic Head (designed/engraved by Robert Scot or John Reich) – issued 1809 to 1836 Braided Hair (designed by Christian Gobrecht) – issued 1840 to 1857 There are no mint marks on any of the coins (all minted at the Philadelphia Mint) and the edges are plain on most half cents. On the 1793, 1794 and some 1795 coins and a variety of the 1797 coin, it was lettered and another 1797 variety had a gripped, or milled, edge. Mintage figures Liberty Cap, facing left 1793 – 35,334 Liberty Cap, facing right 1794 – 81,600 1795 – 139,690 1796 – 1,390 1797 – 127,840 Draped Bust 1800 – 202,908 1802 – 20,266 1803 – 92,000 1804 – 1,055,312 1805 – 814,464 1806 – 356,000 1807 – 476,000 1808 – 400,000 Classic Head (Shown at top right) 1809 – 1,154,572 1810 – 215,000 1811 – 63,140 1825 – 63,000 1826 – 234,000 1828 – 606,000 1829 – 487,000 1831 – 2,200 1832 – 51,000 1833 – 103,000 1834 – 141,000 1835 – 398,000 1836 – proof only, restrikes were made 1837 – No half cents were struck by the United States government; however, due to the need for small change, half-cent tokens were produced by private businessmen. Braided Hair 1840 through 1849 were proof-only issues. There