1834 Classic Head Half Cent

The 1834 Classic Head Half Cent is a coin that any collector would love to get their hands on. This particular coin is of special significance to collectors, seeing as they were produced in fragmented fashion, with multiple years sometimes passing in between editions. With that being said, those coins that were produced are of great value to collectors.

On the obverse side of the 1834 Half Cent, the center of the face is dominated by the raised image of Lady Liberty. The image is stunningly detailed and depicts Lady Liberty wearing a band on her head. Within that band is an inscription which reads “Liberty.” On both sides of the central image there are a total of 13 stars, representative of the 13 original colonies of the United States. Finally, the 1834 year of minting is inscribed towards the bottom of the obverse.

On the coin’s reverse, the center is marked by an inscription which indicates the coin’s “Half Cent” face value. Surrounding this central face value inscription is an ornate wreath that features remarkable detail. On the outside of this is yet another inscription, this one reading “United States of America.” Finally, it must be mentioned that the very outer edges of both sides of the coin are marked by raised notches, which give the coin a bit of added texture.

Grading the 1834 Classic Head Half Cent

For collectors, it is becoming all too common that coins as popular as the 1834 Classic Head Half Cent are counterfeited. Understanding that this is something that happens with some regularity, collectors take precautions before ever purchasing one of these pieces. Nowadays, collectors will only buy those coins that have been graded and certified as being authentic. Below, we have outlined the different coin grades as well as what they mean.

Uncirculated: A coin determined to be of Uncirculated grade are those that, from the day they were minted, were kept in safekeeping. Thanks to this, these pieces will look and feel today exactly as they did when they were first minted.

Extremely Fine: If a Half Cent is determined to be of Extremely Fine grade, the piece will appear nearly flawless. Having said this, the coin will not be completely free of imperfections. There will be a few small scratches and/or chips, some of which that will be fairly difficult to recognize with the naked eye.

Fine: Fine is the grade given to coins that have been circulated but are not so heavily damaged. You will notice some light scratching and smoothing, but none of these imperfections will be enough to have compromised the imagery and lettering of the coin.

Good: Good is the grade given to the most worn and damaged coins out there. With plenty of scratching, smoothing, and other signs of wear, these coins will be so heavily damaged that some of the raised lettering and imagery might have been completely worn away.

Pricing the 1834 Classic Head Half Cent

In terms of determining the price you might be asked to pay for an 1834 Half Cent, the biggest determining factor is the condition the coin is in. Those coins that have been well-preserved are going to almost always fetch a higher price than those that have been damaged. Something to take into consideration is the number of coins available. If there are only a few for sale, the price, per coin, will be more than if there were hundreds and hundreds for sale. Below, you will find a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for a graded 1834 Classic Head Half Cent.

Half Cents

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1834 Classic Head	N/A	$70	$125	$200
Source: Red Book