1803 Draped Bust Half Cent

About This Coin

The 1803 Draped Bust Half Cent is a United States cent from the Draped Bust Half Cents 1800-1808 series — 3rd of 8 years in the series. In 1803, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 92,000. This represents the second-lowest annual mintage in the 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. Multiple die varieties exist. The most available date in the Draped Bust half cent series. Struck in copper, weighing 5.44 grams, 23.5 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Struck one year after the 1802 key date, the lowest-mintage regular issue in the series. Across its variants, estimated values range from $123 to $1.9K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $49K in AU58+BN grade at Stack's Bowers. Designed by Robert Scot.