Copper half cents were the first coins produced in America, in 1793. Half cents are slightly smaller than a modern U.S. quarter. Half cents were issued until 1857 in a variety of designs produced at the Philadelphia Mint.
While all the half cents in existence were minted at the Philadelphia Mint, the coins have no mint marks. The edges of most half cents were plain, although the edge of the 1793 coin had the words “TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR” and the 1797 version had a milled edge.
