Are Half Cents Undervalued?

[Dana]

Hello everyone. It has been a long time since I've posted anything here, but have visited the site from time to time. I think this is a fantastic site. The information here has been very helpful!

As for Half Cents, I realize they are certainly not as widely collected as Lincoln cents for example. But considering the super low mintages, I think it is amazing that someone like me can afford to own an uncirculated example.

I thought it might be interesting to read some view points from other Half Cent collectors, or anyone experienced about Half Cents. Why are the prices so low vs. the mintage numbers? Is it due to lack of interest/demand? Were some Half Cents hoarded or never released for circulation by the mint?

All comments and information would be greatly appreciated.

[coppercoins]

I do not personally collect half cents, but I do think they are underappreciated and may find their time in the limelight some day - this will cause a huge increase in their value because it is my opinion that they are undervalued right now. I don't personally have any half cents currently but would love to have a couple again. Unfortunately the prices they go for in the grade I would be looking for (VF-EF) can be quite prohibitive.

edited: meant "half cents" not "large cents"

[smed]

While I don't make any claim to knowing the why's and wherefore's of pricing, I can make relational judgements from experience. I would say that you are correct saying the lack of interest/demand (or supply/demand) is the major contribuing factor.

My favorite example is the 1995W proof silver american eagle in relation to Mexican proofs of 1982/1983. There were 32,500 of those proof SAEs minted and they go for somewhere between 2 and 3 thousand smackeroonies. The Mexican proofs of 1982/1983 have mintages of 998 or 1051 (depends on which demonination) but can be had for around $30-40 ($250 for the Libertad).

Supply and demand...

[GarryN]

Two half cents on my want list are the error 1828 12 star and the 1828 13 star. Dana, a dealer in Chicago that has a nice selection of half cents is Harlan J Berk. Here is a link to the half cent page. The 1828 13 star in EF40 is $90. There is a 1809/6 there, AU50 for $550

http://www.harlanjberk.com/unitedstatesco/text.asp?title=Half+Cent&inventorygroup=us

[coop]

An interesting side point not covered yet is this: Why did they make 1/2 Cents? Sounds like a question we now might ask, but back them there was a reason for it. For several year the postage for a Letter was ONE CENT. (Hard to belive now?) But Sending a postcard the postage was 1/2 Cent. When you bought one at the post office you could get two postcards for One Cent. But what if you wanted only one? Thus the reason for the 1/2 Cent. Could you image getting change for a dollar in 1/2 Cents? That would be a pocket full of change......

[murphy]

I think the reason they made 1/2 cents back then was because they appreciated money much more than we do today. There wasn't that much of it and for the most part they tended to be more responsible with it when it became available to them. Most people at that time lived on farms and bartered for their everyday needs, trading what they had extra for items that they had a need for. When they for instance sold some hay or eggs or whatever at market to the city folks they maybe got paid in copper. An large egg may have been worth a penny back then, but a small egg only a 1/2 cent. I dunno about that but it goes to illustrate the fact that they appreciated money and when they spent it they wanted to get their money's worth.