1804 Draped Bust Half Cent

The 1804 Draped Bust Half Cent is one of those coins that any collector would love to add to their collection. Not only does it exude historical significance, there are so precious few of these coins still around. Understanding this, it only makes sense that a wise collector would do their best to get their hands on one of these pieces sooner rather than later.

On the coin’s obverse, the center of the face is dominated by the rightward-facing image of Lady Liberty. The image of Lady Liberty is so incredibly detailed that even the curls in her hair are easily able to be seen. Being that there is draped clothing over her bust, the Draped Bust coin name makes sense. Above the central image is an inscription reading “Liberty,” while the 1804 year of minting is inscribed below the image. Around the very outer edges of the coin there are raised notches, which give the coin more appealing aesthetics as well as texture.

On the reverse side of the Draped Bust, the center is marked by an inscription reading the “Half Cent” face value of the coin. Surrounding this inscription is a loosely-tied wreath, held together by a bow. Beneath the bow is an inscription reading “1/200,” or the Half Cent’s value relative to a whole dollar. Finally, the words “United States of America” are inscribed around the outside of the wreath.

Grading the 1804 Draped Bust Half Cent

In terms of collectors, the simple fact of the matter is that counterfeit coins are becoming increasingly prevalent, especially for pieces as highly sought after as the 1804 Draped Bust. Because of this, you will find that collectors only settle for those coins that have been both graded and certified as being authentic. Below, we have outlined the different coin grades as well as what those grades mean.

Uncirculated: If a coin is determined to be of Uncirculated grade, this means that the Draped Bust Half Cent in question did not ever make it onto the open market. Having been perfectly preserved from the day they were minted, these coins are in excellent, pristine condition.

Extremely Fine: A coin determined to be of Extremely Fine grade is one that looks to be pristine, but upon closer inspection will show a few minor flaws. These flaws will be so small that they might not even be able to be deciphered with the naked eye. Still, these pieces are highly sought after by collectors.

Fine: An 1804 Draped Bust Half Cent that is determined to be of Fine grade is one that was circulated, but only for a limited amount of time. These pieces will show consistent, light scratching across the surfaces, but none of the surface imagery nor lettering will have been compromised.

Good: Good is the grade given to the absolutely most worn coins. These pieces will have been circulated so often and damaged quite heavily, sometimes so much so that the surface imagery and lettering will have been smoothed away entirely.

Pricing the 1804 Draped Bust Half Cent

In terms of determining a price for the 1804 Draped Bust Half Cent, the first thing you need to look at is the condition it is in as well as the grade it has been given. Naturally, those coins that have been well-preserved are the ones that will cost the most. Below, you will find a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what a graded 1804 Draped Bust Half Cent might cost.

Half Cents

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1804 Draped Bust	$75	$200	$475	$2,200
Source: Red Book