1802 Draped Bust Half Cent
Base
About This Coin
The 1802 Draped Bust Half Cent is a United States cent from the Draped Bust Half Cents 1800-1808 series — the second year of the series. In 1802, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 40,532. This represents the lowest annual mintage in the entire series, below the series median of 638,000. The obverse features Liberty facing right with draped bust and ribbon-bound hair, designed after a Gilbert Stuart portrait and the reverse displays a wreath enclosing HALF CENT. A famous rarity — the 1802/0 overdate is believed to be the second rarest regular-issue U.S. coin by type after the 1793 Liberty Cap Cent. Struck in copper, weighing 5.44 grams, 23.5 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Across its variants, estimated values range from $1.2K to $25K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $66K in F12+ grade at Superior Galleries. Designed by Robert Scot.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — range across all strike types, reflecting typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
Specifications
Strike Types & Varieties(2)
1802 Draped Bust Half Cent - 1802/0, Reverse of 1800
1802 Draped Bust Half Cent - 1802/0, Reverse of 1802
Other Base Coins in This Series
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